Detection of Ni magnetic moment in GdNi₂compound by magnetic Compton profile (MCP) method

Abstract

The Ni magnetic moment in the GdNi2 Laves phase compound is studied in detail by the use of the magnetic Compton profile (MCP) method. Analysis of the MCP, measured at 30 K, reveals that the spin component of Ni 3d electrons coupled antiparallel to that of Gd 4f electrons, and it was confirmed that the Ni retains a spin magnetic moment of 0.16 ± 0.08 μB. Furthermore, the total magnetic moment, including the angular momentum component, is found to be 0.23 ± 0.11 μB and this value that is obtained is in accord with that derived from direct measurement of the bulk magnetization. Our finding of the existence of the Ni magnetic moment contradicts the well-known fact that Ni loses its magnetic moment in the Laves phase of rare-earth (RE)–Ni compounds. In addition, the magnetic moment originating from the electrons with s- and p-character, which are donated by the Gd and Ni atoms, is also observed and quantified.