Magnetic transitions in HoErFe17-xGaxC

The compounds HoErFe17-xGaxC (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) were synthesized by the are m elting technique. The ac magnetic susceptibility studies were carried out o n these compounds to identify the possible magnetic transitions viz., spin reorientation transitions. Two-step spin reorientation transitions were ide ntified in the systems HoErFe17-xGax (x = 0-2). The spin reorientation tran sition temperature is increased upon carbon insertion. The variations in sp ill reorientation transition upon substitution of Ga at Fe site and inserti on of carbon at interstitial sites is explained on the basis of changes in sign and magnitude of the second-order crystal field parameter A(20). (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rc:served.