Magnetization density in Er2Co17

Materials of the type RE2Co17 have a high magneto-crystalline anisotropy which arises from the trivalent RE ion (RE=rare-earth) undergoing the combined effects of crystal field and exchange interactions. Information about the magnetization density at the RE site is a vital input for an understanding of the basic interactions governing the magnetic anisotropy. A polarized neutron diffraction experiment has been carried out on a single crystal of hexagonal Er2Co17 at 5 K under an applied magnetic field of 50 kOe. Numerous reflections were collected in the (hk0), (hk1) and (hk2) layers. The experimentally determined magnetic moments of Er (at sites 2b and 2d) and Co atoms (at sites 4f, 6g, 12j and 12k) are in good overall agreement with bulk high-field magnetization measurements. (orig.)