The Variation of Periodicity of Magnetic Structure with Dilution and Temperature for the Heavy Rare-Earth Metals

摘要

A discussion is given of the several possible mechanisms proposed to account for the variation of periodicity of magnetic order for the heavy rare-earth metals. The relationship between the thermal variation of periodicity for a given metal and the variation of periodicity among the various metals at the ordering temperature is considered. Emphasis is put on the importance of the neutron diffraction experiments on alloys of heavy rare-earth metals diluted with yttrium for understanding the mechanism causing the periodicity variation. The type of interaction that seems most reasonable in fitting the various experimental evidence is suggested. (Author)