Magnetocaloric and magnetoelastic effects in (Tb_0.45Dy_0.55)_1-xEr_xCo₂multicomponent compounds

Abstract

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and magnetoelastic (ME) anomalies at the magnetic phase transitions in (Tb0.45Dy0.55)1-xErxCo2 compounds (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) are studied. For the compounds synthesized with the use of high-pure rare-earth metals, the measurements of MCE performed by a direct method and the study of magnetostriction and thermal expansion by a strain-gauge technique are carried out. Large MCE and a maximum of magnetostriction are observed in the vicinity of phase transitions in the studied compounds, which can be considered as potential materials for magnetic refrigeration. It is shown that the magnetoelastic energy contribution to the MCE for (Tb0.45Dy0.55)1-xErxCo2 cannot be neglected.