Magnetic and transport properties of the itinerant electron system Hf1−<i>x</i>Ta<i>x</i>Fe2

Abstract

Magnetization and resistivity measurements of poly- and single-crystalline samples of Hf1−xTaxFe2 are presented. At the antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition we find a large change of resistance which can be induced as a function of temperature as well as field. For single-crystalline Hf0.86Ta0.14Fe2 we observe at room temperature a giant magnetoresistance effect of 6%. From neutron-powder-diffraction measurements, possible magnetic structures in the different magnetic states are constructed.