HEAT-CAPACITY STUDIES OF HOFE2, ERFE2, LUFE2 INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS

Rare earth intermetallic compounds possess crystal field interactions which can be observed as contributions to the heat capacity. This paper reports the results of heat capacity studies of several RFe2 compounds (R=Ho, Er, and Lu). The crystal field contributions to the heat capacities for the Ho and Er ions, determined from the heat capacity data obtained for HoFe2 and ErFe2, have been used in determining the crystal field parameters for these rare earth ions. In our case, for Er3+, B4 0=1.937×10-3 K and B60 =-1.195×10-5 K; and for Ho3+, B4 0=-9.40×10-4 K and B60=5. 10×10-6 K. These parameters are discussed and compared to those obtained by neutron diffraction and spin reorientation studies.