Anisotropy induced anomalies in Dy1−xTbxAl2
Abstract
The Dy1−xTbxAl2 alloys have been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, heat capacity, and magnetic measurements. All samples exhibit cubic Laves phase crystal structure at room temperature but at TC, DyAl2 and TbAl2 show tetragonal and rhombohedral distortions, respectively. First order phase transitions are observed below TC (at the spin-reorientation transition, TSR) in the alloys with 0.15 ≤ x ≤ 0.35. These transitions are signified by sharp heat capacity peaks and corresponding anomalies in the magnetization and ac magnetic susceptibility data. The observations are interpreted by taking into consideration the differences in easy magnetization directions of DyAl2 and TbAl2. Due to the competing magnetic structures, the anisotropy-related instability and magnetic frustrations are prominent in the Dy1−xTbxAl2 alloys at certain concentrations resulting in the first order transitions.
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