Magnetic anisotropy of the Nd2Fe14B compound and its hydride Nd2Fe14BH4

Abstract

Magnetization curves of single crystals of Nd2Fe14B and its hydride Nd2Fe14BH4 have been measured along their principal crystallographic directions in a temperature range of 4.2–280 K. The magnetic anisotropy constants, which allow one to describe experimental magnetization curves as well as the low-temperature “easy-cone”-type magnetic structure and field-induced first-order magnetic phase transitions, have been determined in terms of a collinear-ferrimagnetic-ordering model. The anisotropy constants were shown to decrease in magnitude upon hydrogenation. In this case, the ratios of the effective fourth-and sixth-order constants to the second-order constant increase, whereas the constants responsible for the basal-plane anisotropy exhibit a more than threefold decrease. At the same time, the spin-reorientation temperature and opening of the magnetization cone at 4.2 K remain virtually unchanged. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the single-ion-anisotropy theory.