Temperature dependence of the magneto-crystalline anisotropy in R2Fe17 (R=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er)

Abstract We measured the temperature dependence of the magneto-crystalline anisotropy constants K 1 and K 2 in R 2 Fe 17 , where R=Gd, Tb, Dy, Er and Y. Relatively large single crystals were grown by the Bridgman method under 1.2 atm argon atmosphere. The starting materials were polycrystalline alloys prepared in an arc-melting furnace. The anisotropy constants K 1 and K 2 were derived by a Sucksmith and Thompson analysis from the magnetization curves of each single crystal which were measured from room temperature to 4.2 K.