Specific heat of DyCu2 single crystals in high magnetic fields

Specific heat measurements on DyCu2 single crystals in magnetic fields of 0 , 1.7 and 4.0 T parallel to the a-direction were performed between 0.3 and 50 K. Various second order transitions due to the strong magnetic anisotrop y of the compound were found in accordance with the phase diagram that was derived from magnetization and thermal expansion measurements. The nearly v ertical phase transition lines at 5 K in the ferrimagnetic F1 phase and at 6 K in the ferromagnetic F2 phase can be confirmed by the present data, Mor eover, the temperature dependence of the Ising-axis conversion field of DyC u2 was complemented by specific heat and magnetocaloric investigations in f ields parallel to the c-direction. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.