Observation of spin-orbital compensation in Sm_(1-x)Gd_xNi_2

摘要

A systematic study of Sm_(1-x)Gd_xNi_2 series shows signatures of perfect spin-orbital compensation at x=0.03 and 0.035. Magnetization measurements show that both these compounds magnetically order at about 25 K. Below this temperature, the magnetization data shows a compensation point. For x=0.04 and 0.05, large conduction electron polarization prevents the occurrence of exact compensation. The features seen in this case are found to be quite identical to those of the classical spin-orbit compensated ferromagnet, namely (Sm,Gd)Al_2.