Magnetic anisotropy and magnetostriction of Tb_xGd_1-xAl₂

Abstract

The magnetic anisotropy and the magnetostrictive properties of Tb in the metallic host GdAl2 have been studied using single crystals of TbxGd1-xAl2 where x=0.02 and 0.05. The anisotropy and magnetostriction constants are found to be proportional to x and extrapolation to x=1 yields an anisotropy constant consistent with measurements on TbAl2. The magnetostriction results are in clear conflict both with existing measurements using X-rays and with crystal field calculations; no satisfactory explanation for the discrepancies can be found.