Eur. Phys. J. B 16, 429-434 (2000)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510070199

Magnetic properties of ErFe₆Ga₆ studied by magnetization and neutron diffraction

¹ Hahn-Meitner-Institute, SF-2, Glienickerstrasse 100, 141 09 Berlin, Germany
² Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Valckenierstraat 65, 1018 XE Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Corresponding author: ^a prokes@hmi.de

Received: 24 November 1999
Revised: 27 March 2000
Published online: 15 August 2000

Abstract

Neutron-diffraction experiments reveal that ErFe₆Ga₆ forms in the tetragonal ThMn₁₂-type of structure (space group I₄/mmm). The Fe sublattice orders ferromagnetically below T_C=509 K. The Er moments order antiparallel to the Fe moments which, below about 250 K, leads to a decrease of the total magnetization. The easy magnetization direction of ErFe₆Ga₆ is perpendicular to the c-axis in the whole temperature range. Refinement at 2 K shows that ErFe₆Ga₆ orders ferrimagnetically with Er moments of 8.5 (2) µB and Fe moments at the 8(j) site of 1.9 (1) µB and at the 8(f) site of 1.7 (1) µB, respectively. At room temperature, ErFe₆Ga₆ exhibits the same type of magnetic order, however with substantially lower Er moments of 1.0 (4) µB and Fe moments at the 8(f) site of 1.2 (2) µB. The Fe moments at the 8(j) site amount to 1.9 (5) µB/Fe.