Crystal structure and magnetism of rare earth intermetallic compound Dy0.33Ho0.33Er0.33Ni

Abstract

Multi-component rare earth intermetallic compound Dy0.33Ho0.33Er0.33Ni has been prepared by arc melting and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and magnetization experiments. The sample crystallizes in orthorhombic FeB-type structure at 300 K and ferromagnetically orders around 40 K (TC). The TC is close to the average value of the ferromagnetic transition temperatures of DyNi, HoNi and ErNi compounds. Magnetization has been measured as a function of field up to 15 kOe and low field magnetocaloric effect around the magnetic transition temperature is computed.