Magnetic Properties of Rare Earth Gallium Intermetallic Compounds

Abstract

Magnetic measurements on the single crystal RGa intermetallic compounds (R=Pr, Nd, Sm, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er) have been carried out in the 4.2 K to 350 K temperature range. All the compounds, except ErGa, are ferromagnetism with high coercive force along the easy direction. ErGa compound is antiferromagnetism. The magnetization curves for the heavy rare earth compounds were fairly well explained on the basis of the molecular field model, including the crystal field. But, for light rare earth compounds, the agreements between the experimental and the calculated values were not so good. Crystal field parameters B 2 0 and B 2 2 were determined from the anisotropy of paramagnetic Curie temperatures on the basis of the molecular field theory. These parameters were compared with those of the point charge model.