Temperature induced magnetic instability in the itinerant Co subsystem of the Er1-xYxCo3 Compounds

Magnetic-phase transitions of two types were observed in the Er1-xYxCo3 sys tem by thermal expansion and magnetization measurements. The transition occ urring due to the instability of the itinerant subsystem was identified by a drastic volume change. The transition temperature decreases linearly From 65 (ErCo3) to 0 K (x approximate to 0.5) as concentration increases. A spi n re-orientation transition occurs below approximate to 40 K in the range 0 .3 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.9. The parameters charac terizing these transitions are evaluated and discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.