Magnetic properties of the ErFe10-xGaxSi2 compounds

The ErFe10-xGaxSi2 compounds with the ThMn12-type structure were synthesize d for x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0. With increasing Ga content, the latti ce constant c and the unit-cell volume V increase monotonically. The lattic e constant, a, and the Curie temperature increase first, go through a maxim um and then decrease with increasing x. Spin re-orientation from the easy-c one to the uniaxial type is detected for all the compounds as the temperatu re increases from 5 K to 300 K. A tentative spin phase diagram is construct ed for ErFe10-xGaxSi2. The saturation magnetization decreases monotonically which can be understood in terms of a simple dilution model.