Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy and Magnetostriction of the Intermetallic Compound Fe₅Ge₃

Abstract

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy constants of Fe₅Ge₃ were determined as K₁=−5.1×10⁶erg/cm³, |K₃|=1.2×10²erg/cm³ for room temperature and K₁=−8.4×10⁶erg/cm³, |K₃|=1.6×10²erg/cm³ for liquid nitrogen temperature by means of torque measurements. The temperature dependence of K₁ can be well interpreted by a one ion anisotropy model based on the Kanematsu’s spin scheme and the molecular field approximation. Magnetostriction of the crystal at room temperature was studied by using strain gauges. Magnetostriction constants were determined as λ(001,100)=−20×10⁻⁶, λ(001,001)=32×10⁻⁶ and λ(010,100)=6.7×10⁻⁶. These values are qualitatively consistent with the one ion anisotropy model.