Evidence for spin-density-wave transition in dilute yttrium-gadolinium alloys

Abstract
In order to elucidate the possible existence of a spin-density-wave (SDW) transition in YGd, the heat capacity of five alloys with concentrations varying from 2 to 5 at. % Gd have been measured in the temperature range 1.5–30 K. Semicusp-like behavior is observed in the magnetic specific heats with the maxima occurring at similar temperatures as the susceptibility peaks. Additionally the magnetic entropy change between 0 K and the ordering temperature increases from 56% to 68% of cR ln(2J+1) for increasing concentrations. These calorimetric results suggest a long-range magnetic ordering and are in quantitatively good agreement to the mean-field predictions of the Overhauser thermodynamic treatment of antiferromagnetic ordering by a SDW mechanism.

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