Possible ferrimagnetic coupling in light‐rare‐earth transition‐metal intermetallic compounds Available to Purchase

The possibility of ferrimagnetic coupling between the magnetic moments of the light‐rare‐earth (Nd, Pr) ions and of the transition‐metal (Fe) ions in Nd₆Ga₃Fe₁₁‐ and Pr₆Ga₃Fe₁₁‐based compounds is deduced from the high‐field magnetization curves measured at 4.2 K on magnetically aligned and on free‐powder samples and from the temperature dependence of the magnetization. The ferrimagnetic coupling is very weak: at 4.2 K, the rare‐earth moments and the transition‐metal moments can be forced to ferromagnetic alignment by application of an external magnetic field of about 4 T. Generally, in intermetallic compounds, the magnetic coupling is ferromagnetic between light‐rare‐earth and transition‐metal ions and ferrimagnetic between heavy‐rare‐earth and transition‐metal ions. The present results suggest that in some crystal structures ferrimagnetic coupling also may exist in the compounds formed by light‐rare‐earth and transition‐metal elements.