Magnetic Transitions In Disordered Gdal2

Authors

D. S. Williams, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
P. M. Shand, University of Northern IowaFollow
T. M. Pekarek, University of North FloridaFollow
R. Skomski, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
V. Petkov, Central Michigan UniversityFollow
D. L. Leslie-Pelecky, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Volume

68

Issue

21

Abstract

The role of disorder in magnetic ordering transitions is investigated using mechanically milled GdAl2. Crystalline GdAl2 is a ferromagnet while amorphous GdAl2 is a spin glass. Nanostructured GdAl2 shows a paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition and glassy behavior, with the temperature and magnitude of each transition dependent on the degree and type of disorder. Disorder is parametrized by a Gaussian distribution of Curie temperatures TC with mean TC and breadth ΔTC. A nonzero coercivity is observed at temperatures more than 20 K above the highest TC of any known Gd-Al phase; however, the coercivity decreases with decreasing temperature over the same temperature range where the GdAl2 grains ferromagnetically order. Models for the anomalous coercivity behavior are proposed and evaluated for their ability to explain the origin of the low-temperature glassy magnetization peak. © 2003 The American Physical Society.

Department

Department of Physics

Original Publication Date

12-3-2003

DOI of published version

10.1103/PhysRevB.68.214404

Recommended Citation

Williams, D. S.; Shand, P. M.; Pekarek, T. M.; Skomski, R.; Petkov, V.; and Leslie-Pelecky, D. L., "Magnetic Transitions In Disordered Gdal2" (2003). Faculty Publications. 3205.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/facpub/3205