Texture and magneto-crystalline anisotropy analysis of an oriented ErMn 4Fe 8C powder sample

Abstract

Powder samples of the ternary carbide ErMn 4Fe 8C x−1 were oriented under a low magnetic field H∼0.5 T. Analysis of the crystal texture of the samples confirms that the compound is of easy-plane type, in agreement with magnetization measurements and neutron diffraction experiments performed elsewhere. Both the latter techniques have revealed that the magnetic arrangement is rather complicated, as supported by competing contributions to magneto-crystalline anisotropy. However, assuming a reasonably simple expression for the magneto-crystalline anisotropy valid at high temperature only, the texture analysis, performed at 300 K, has allowed simulation of the magnetization versus field curve for this planar ferrimagnetic structure. A comparison with the experimental magnetization curve reveals the onset of a first-order magnetization process taking place under an applied field up to 1.8 T.