Anisotropy evolution in Ce2Co17-xGax compounds

The magnetic properties of Ce2Co17-xGax compounds for Ga concentrations up to x = 5 were studied by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetic measuremen ts. The easy magnetisation direction is parallel to the c-axis in all compo unds. The Co moment and the Curie temperature strongly decrease with increa sing Ga concentration. We have also determined the concentration dependence of the anisotropy held. The values of H-A increase with x up to x = 3 and then strongly decrease with increasing x. This behaviour is discussed in te rms of preferential Ga occupation of the available four crystallographic si tes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.