Theory of the magnetism of R-Co intermetallic compounds

We report self-consist energy band calculations for the RCo2 compounds (R=Gd-Yb). The conduction electron moments were calculated to be 1.75 μB/f.u. for the Gd and Tb compounds. However, two self-consistent moments - with saturated and unsaturated Co moments - were obtained for the Dy-Yb compounds. Under the assumption that the effective (or molecular) field acting on the 4f moments is due to the exchange splitting arising from the 5d spin, the Curie temperatures of the compounds were calculated ab initio. (orig.)