Magnetic characteristics of Laves phase compound PrFe₂

Abstract

The magnetic properties of Laves phase compound PrFe2, synthesised at high pressure, were studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy and saturation magnetisation. The ferromagnetism in PrFe2 has been confirmed. The rotation of the easy axis of magnetisation on the (110) plane to (111) with respect to (001) was observed as temperature increased. The authors have calculated the single-ion crystalline field magnetic anisotropy and have found this model to account for the experimental results in principle.