Weak Itinerant Ferromagnetism in Sc(Co_1−xAl_x)₂

Abstract

The occurrence of the weak itinerant ferromagnetism is found in the pseudobinary compound system Sc(Co_1−xAl_x)₂ in the Al concentration range between x=0.15 and 0.30. The values of the moment and the Curie temperature T_C are 0.085 μ_B/Co and 23.7 K respectively and then the Rhodes-Wohlfarth ratio results in 14 at x=0.23. The square of the spontaneous magnetization and the inverse of the magnetic susceptibility are linear functions of T^4⁄3, which is consistent with the SCR theory. The magnetic properties are very similar to those of Y(Co_1−xAl_x)₂ as a whole. One of the characteristics in this system is that the values of T_C are always larger than those of Weiss temperature θ.