Destruction of Ferromagnetism in ZrZn2at High Pressure

Abstract

The variation of the Curie temperature $T_c$ for the weak ferromagnet Zr${\mathrm{Zn}}_2$ has been determined as a function of hydrostatic pressure up to 25 kbar. $T_c$ is found initially to decrease linearly with pressure at a rate $\frac{\partial T_c}{\partial P}=(-1.8\mathrm{}\pm 0.04)\times {10}^{-3\mathrm{}}$ °K ${\mathrm{bar}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$, followed by an abrupt change of slope at 7.5 kbar and a rapid fall, extrapolating to a critical pressure $P_c$ of 8.5 kbar for the destruction of ferromagnetism. The measured $T_c\mathrm{}\left(P\right)\mathrm{}$ curve agrees well with the relationship $T_c\mathrm{}\left(P\right)=T_c\mathrm{}\left(0\right)\mathrm{}{(1-\frac{P}{P_c})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ which is derived from the theory of itinerant ferromagnetism.