Magnetic Structure Properties of Tb-Sc Alloys

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Abstract
The results of a neutron‐diffraction study of the magnetic structure properties of the Tb‐Sc alloy system are reported. Five binary alloys with Tb content from 90 at. % to 25 at. % have been examined by powder techniques from 300°K down to liquid‐helium temperatures to determine the magnetic ordering temperatures and the magnetic structures. The dilution by Sc causes the spiral magnetic phase of Tb to remain stable over a temperature interval larger than in the pure metal. This effect is the same general behavior as that found in the Tb‐Y system previously reported. However, the Néel points of the Tb‐Sc alloys fall well below those found for Tb‐Y and the initial turn angles are smaller in this system. TN falls more rapidly for Tb‐Sc alloys than for Tb‐Y alloys as a function of the effective spin variable x=c(g−1)2J(J+1), where c is the atomic percent of Tb, and reaches 0°K at x about 2.5. The 25% Tb alloy shows no visible magnetic order down to 1.3°K in contrast to the Tb‐Y system where magnetic order was observed with as little as 5 at. % Tb. The universal curve of TN vs x previously found for rare‐earth alloys is not obeyed in the Tb‐Sc system.