Magnetism in rare earth Co2 compounds under high pressures

Abstract

We have studied electrical resistivity anomalies connected with magnetism in RECo2 (RE=Nd, Tb, Er, Ho) compounds in pressures up to 8 GPa. At ambient pressure the former two compounds exhibit a second order magnetic phase transition (SOMPT) at TC, whereas a first order magnetic phase transition (FOMPT) is observed in the latter two. Although TC decreases with pressure in all four compounds, the TC(P) dependence for NdCo2 and TbCo2 differs considerably from this for HoCo2 and ErCo2. For the latter two, Tc vs P data deviate dramatically from the initial linear dependence above a critical pressure Pc to become almost pressure independent at higher pressures. We propose that this is reflecting the loss of Co metamagnetism that is also indicated by the vanishing resistivity drop at Tc for P>4 GPa and by the change from a FOMPT to a SOMPT. A scenario is discussed assuming that for P>Pc the projected Co 3d density of states at EF decreases. Hence the Co moment collapses because the RE-Co-RE exchange channel becomes ineffective to induce the itinerant 3d electron metamagnetism. The localized RE moments, however, order at a “residual” TC due to the persisting Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida-type exchange interaction. For NdCo2 and TbCo2 the Tc values decrease with pressure by an exponential law but remain rather high in the highest applied pressures. Results of first-principles electronic structure calculations using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method are presented for HoCo2 and NdCo2 compounds, as well.