Magnetostriction and magnetic properties of terbium-yttrium alloy monocrystals

Magnetostriction and magnetic properties of single crystals of terbium-yttrium alloys have been examined. The measurements have been taken in the temperature range of 4.2-250 K and in a wide range of concentrations of the components. The magnetization temperature dependence shows a sharp change at the temperature T1 and a magnetization maximum at a higher temperature T2xT1 is the temperature of the ferromagnetism-helicoidal antiferromagnetism phase transition, T2 is the temperature of the helicoidal antiferromagnetism-paramagnetism transition. As the magnetic field increases, T1 displaces to higher temperatures, and T2 to lower ones. The experimental data suggest that the character of magnetic ordering and the electron structure of the alloys are strongly interrelated. The performed measurements of magnetoelastic effects have shown that magnetostriction has a different character along different directions. Magnetostrictive effects have been displayed to affect strongly magnetic phase transitions