High pulsed field magnetostriction in RMn2 (R=Gd, Tb, Nd, and Y)

Abstract

We have performed thermal expansion and magnetostriction experiments on several compounds of the series RMn2 and R(Mn1−xNix)2 (R=Nd, Gd, Tb, and Y) using high pulsed magnetic field up to 15 T in the temperature range 4–300 K. A giant volume magnetostriction of ω=−17×10−3 was observed in TbMn2 at 15 T and 4 K. A negligible forced volume magnetostriction was observed in YMn2. In GdMn2 paramagnetic magnetostrictive behavior was found below TN. Magnetostriction experiments were confirmed as a powerful tool in order to determine the stability of the magnetic moment on Mn in this series of compounds.