Magnetic switching and magnetic transitions in ErCo2 probed by radio-frequency transverse susceptibility

ErCo2 represents a typical example of magnetism of itinerant electron systems and metamagnetic processes and has been the subject of extensive research. We present here the first study of radiofrequency transverse susceptibility (TS) of bulk ErCo2 using a self-resonant tunnel-diode oscillator technique. TS measurements reveal the collective magnetic switching of the Er moments at temperatures below the ferrimagnetic transition temperature, Tc -32 K, and the existence of Co nanoclusters with short-range correlations at Tc<T<Tf (Tf denoted as the flipping temperature). The difference in the magnetic configuration between the ferrimagnetic, parimagnetic, and paramagnetic states, as well as the change from the paramagnetic to parimagnetic regime upon varying dc magnetic fields are also probed by TS experiments. These findings are discussed in the context of our previous investigations using other different techniques which provide further insights into the magnetism and the so-called parimagnetism phenomenon in ErCo2.We wish to acknowledge the support by a grant from DoD-USAMRMC through grant no. W81XWH–07–1–0708 for the work at USF. The financial support of MICINN MAT08/1077 and Aragonese CAMRADS and IMANA projects is acknowledged. A.I.F. acknowledges a JAE2008- Predoc grant.Peer Reviewe

Magnetic switching and magnetic transitions in ErCo2 probed by radio frequency transverse susceptibility

ErCo2 represents a typical example of magnetism of itinerant electron systems and metamagnetic processes and has been the subject of extensive research. We present here the first study of radiofrequency transverse susceptibility TS of bulk ErCo2 using a self resonant tunnel diode oscillator technique. TS measurements reveal the collective magnetic switching of the Er moments at temperatures below the ferrimagnetic transition temperature, Tc 32 K, and the existence of Co nanoclusters with short range correlations at Tc lt;T lt;Tf Tf denoted as the flipping temperature . The difference in the magnetic configuration between the ferrimagnetic, parimagnetic, and paramagnetic states, as well as the change from the paramagnetic to parimagnetic regime upon varying dc magnetic fields are also probed by TS experiments. These findings are discussed in the context of our previous investigations using other different techniques which provide further insights into the magnetism and the so called parimagnetism phenomenon in ErCo2. VC 2011 American Institute of Physic