Magnetostriction of 4f-electron compounds in high magnetic fields

Abstract

Magnetostriction gives an insight into the interactions between the electronic and the lattice system of solids. Because only macroscopic methods can be used in fields above 20 T, miniaturized capacitive dilatometers were adapted to the strongest magnets. We performed experiments up to the highest available steady fields of 45 T and in 50 T pulsed field systems. The power of magnetoelastic investigations is illustrated by measurements at two 4f-intermetallics: SmCu2 is an antiferromagnet below 23 K with a nearly compensated magnetic moment and, the monopnictid GdSb orders antiferromagnetically at 24 K. Both materials show magnetic transitions at applied fields of about 30 T when the ferromagnetic state is induced. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.