The magnetic properties of dilute palladium-iron alloys

Abstract

The magnetizations of several PdFe alloys containing 0.05-0.15 at.% iron have been measured as functions of field (0.06-18.5 kG) and temperature (1.2-4.2 degrees K). The results are interpreted by assuming that the magnetizations for each alloy may be separated into contributions from the palladium matrix and 'giant' moments associated with the iron atoms. The latter show paramagnetic behaviour which can be represented by Brillouin functions with arguments incorporating an internal field proportional to the magnetization. The saturation magnetizations indicate that a moment of 9 Bohr magnetons is associated with each iron atom and the form of the Brillouin functions suggest that complexes of iron atoms are formed carrying considerably larger magnetic moments. The 0.15 at.% alloy was found to be ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of 2.1+or-0.05 degrees K.