Polarized neutron study of the itinerant electron metamagnetism in ThCo5

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Abstract
The peculiar magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic compound ThCo5 have been studied by means of polarized neutrons. The first order magnetic transition, induced below 150 K by an applied field corresponds to an increase of the magnetization of the two Co sites (2c, 3g). The thermal variations of the spontaneous magnetizations and the superimposed susceptibilities exhibit a maximum at about 170 K. But, adding to the applied field the exchange field due to interactions between the two sites, it appears that only Co atoms of the 3g site exhibit a maximum of the susceptibility, which is reminiscent of the one observed in the Pauli paramagnet YCo2. The results show the character of itinerant electron metamagnetism of the 3g site. Such a property is often observed in compounds where the 3d band is hybridized with less localized d electrons.