Crystal structure and negative magnetization in Sm2Al and Sm1.988Gd0.012Al compounds

Abstract

Here we report Sm2Al and Sm1.988Gd0.012Al compounds, with orthorhombic crystal structure (space group: Pnma), showing negative magnetization in temperature dependence magnetization data. Both compounds magnetically order at ~150 and 200K respectively and below this temperature, magnetization data shows a compensation temperature (Tcomp) which shifts with field. Hysteresis loops obtained below Tcomp signify that both Sm2Al and Sm1.988Gd0.012Al possess exchange anisotropy. Both, exchange anisotropy field and coercive field are found to be quite large and comparable to those of the classical spin–orbit compensated ferromagnet (Sm,Gd)Al2.