Magnetic properties of DyXZr1-XCo2 compounds

Magnetic measurements were performed on DyxZr1-Co-2 compounds in the temper ature range 4.2-700 K and external fields up to 7 T. ZrCo2 shows a nearly t emperature-independent paramagnetism. For x greater than or equal to 0.2, t he compounds are ferrimagnetically ordered. The cobalt moments at 4.2 K, M- Co, are strongly dependent on composition. A field induced transition of M- Co values is seen at H-exch approximate to 60 T. Just above the Curie point s, there are indications that cobalt has an exchange-enhanced paramagnetism . There is evidence for temperature induced effective cobalt moments, M-eff approximate to 3 mu(B) at T > 400 K. The magnetic behaviour of cobalt is a nalysed in the spin-fluctuation model. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.