Magnetic Anisotropy and Spin Rotations inHoxTb1−xFe2Cubic Laves Compounds

The directions of the easy magnetization in the ${\mathrm{Ho}}_x{\mathrm{Tb}}_{1-x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_2$ system have been determined by means of the Mössbauer effect in ${}_{}{}^{57}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$. If the direction of magnetization of the system is described by an ($x,T$) spin-orientation diagram, it is found that the ($x,T$) plane is divided into three regions, in each of which the direction of magnetization is along a different major crystal axis. The diagram is interpreted by simple cubic-crystallinefield theory.