Metamagnetic transition of YCo2

Abstract

The electronic structure of d electrons in the cubic Laves phase of the intermetallic compound YCo₂ under an external magnetic field is calculated in the tight-binding approximation. The magnetic-field dependence of the induced moment is obtained at 0K and it is shown that the metamagnetic transition from the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state occurs at about 90 T. It is also shown that the different hybridisations between the 3d band of Co and the 4d band of Y or the 5d band of R (where R is a rare earth) with majority and minority spins play an important role in the appearance of the local moment on Co in the magnetised state of the compounds YCo₂ or RCo₂.