Magnetostriction of Dy and Ho studied by X-ray diffraction

A change of the crystal lattice of Dy and Ho which is induced by a magnetic field along the easy direction of magnetization in the c-plane has been st udied by X-ray diffraction in a temperature range of the helix phase. Conti nuous and discontinuous changes of the c-lattice parameter accompanying mag netic phase transitions have been observed and satellite reflections caused by the lattice modulation have been found in the helix phase of Dy and Ho and the helifan phase of Ho. The results can be explained by using the magn etoelastic effect and the magnetic structure calculated by a self-consisten t mean field method. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.