Decoupling of the magnetic sublattices at the compensation point in R-Fe compounds

Abstract

The behavior of the R-Fe interaction at the magnetic compensation point of Ho0.5 Lu0.5 Fe2 and Er0.5 Y0.5 Fe2 compounds has been studied by means of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The results point out that at the compensation point, the rare-earth sublattice loses completely the magnetic order whereas the Fe sublattice still presents local magnetic order. In addition, the XMCD data show that close below to the compensation point the system is in an intermediate state in which the magnetization of both magnetic sublattices are parallel to the applied magnetic field, and that the ferrimagnetic coupling is progressively restored again by decreasing the temperature. © 2010 The American Physical Society.