Magnetic Properties of Rare Earth Intermetallic Compounds in Gd(Ag, Cd, In) and Gd(Cu, Ag, Au) Systems

Abstract

Rare earth intermetallic compounds in Gd(Ag, Cd, In) and Gd(Cu, Ag, Au) systems have been studied. Most of these compounds have the CsCl type of crystal structure. Magnetization measurements have been made on these compounds to determine the type of the magnetic order and its relationship to the number of conduction electrons. GdAg, GdAg 0.9 In 0.1 , GdAg 0.2 In 0.8 , GdAg 0.1 In 0.9 , and GdIn in the Gd(Ag, In) system and GdCu, GdAg, GdAg 0.7 Au 0.3 , and GdAg 0.5 Au 0.5 in the Gd(Cu, Ag, Au) system are antiferromagnetic at low temperatures. On the contrary, GdCd, GdAg 0.8 In 0.2 , GdAg 0.7 In 0.3 , GdAg 0.5 In 0.5 , and GdAg 0.3 In 0.7 are ferromagnetic at low temperatures. GdCd has a very high Curie temperature of 262°K. In the Gd(Cu, Ag, Au) system, the Néel temperature increases with the increase in the lattice constant. The remarkable difference in magnetic behavior between the Gd(Ag, Cd, In) system and the Gd(Cu, Ag, Au) system is considered to be associated with the fact that the number of conduction electrons plays more important role in determining the magnetic behaviors than the interatomic separation.