NONLINEAR MAGNETIC RESPONSE OF 3D-4F INTERMETALLICS IN HIGH MAGNETIC-FIELDS

Non-linear magnetic response of rare-earth-3d intermetallics in high magnetic fields are reviewed with special attention for the different mechanisms that can lead to kinks and jogs in the magnetisation curve: metamagnetism of the 3d partner, field-induced crossing of the rare-earth crystal-field levels, breaking of the antiparallel alignment of the rare-earth and 3d magnetic sublattices and anisotropy-related transitions. The latter result from a competition between the rare-earth crystal-field coefficients of different order. By inspecting the high-field magnetisation curves of YCo2 and LuCo2, Pr, Dy2Co17 and Pr2Fe14B, examples can be presented for all four different types of severe non-linearities. © 1990.