Experimental studies of spin reorientations inEr2−xPrxFe14B

Abstract

57Fe Mössbauerspectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements have been used to study the polycrystallineEr2−xPrxFe14B (x = 0.25,0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5) compounds. Special emphasis was put on the spin reorientation phenomena(change of spin orientation from planar to axial arrangement) occurring in this series. Thespin reorientation in each compound has been investigated mainly by means of narrow steptemperature scanning in the neighbourhood of the spin reorientation temperature,TSR.Initial magnetization versus temperature measurements allowed us to establish thetemperature regions of reorientations and also the Curie temperatures of the compounds.Mössbauer temperature scanning was performed with a step of 2 K in the vicinity ofTSR. The spectra obtained were analysed by using a procedure of simultaneousfitting and the transmission integral approach. Consistent fits were obtained;TSR and the composition dependences of hyperfine interaction parameters were derived from fitsfor all compounds studied.The TSR values obtained with both methods were compared and the spin phase diagram for theseries was constructed.