Heat capacity of, and crystal-field effects in, theRFe2intermetallic compounds (R=Gd,Tb,Dy,Ho,Er,Tm,andLu)

Abstract

Heat capacity for $R{\mathrm{Fe}}_2$ intermetallic compounds containing the heavy rare-earth elements ($R=\mathrm{G}\mathrm{d},\mathrm{T}\mathrm{b},\mathrm{D}\mathrm{y},\mathrm{H}\mathrm{o},\mathrm{E}\mathrm{r},\mathrm{T}\mathrm{m},\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{u}$) are reported. The crystal-field contributions to the heat capacity have been evaluated and used to determine the crystal-field parameters and axis of magnetization for these compounds. The behavior of the magnetocrystalline free energies, magnetic moment, and bulk anisotropy constants as a function of temperature have been calculated. An anomaly in the heat capacity of Tm${\mathrm{Fe}}_2$ is reported and attributed to a spin reorientation as a function of temperature.