Magnetic properties of the ErFe/sub 10-x/Ga/sub x/Si/sub 2/ compounds

The ErFe/sub 10-x/Ga/sub x/Si/sub 2/ compounds with the ThMn/sub 12/-type structure were synthesized for x=0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0. With increasing Ga content, the lattice constant c and the unit-cell volume V increase monotonically. The lattice constant, a, and the Curie temperature increase first, go through a maximum and then decrease with increasing x. Spin re-orientation from the easy-cone to the uniaxial type is detected for all the compounds as the temperature increases from 5 to 300 K. A tentative spin phase diagram is constructed for ErFe/sub 10-x/Ga/sub x/Si/sub 2/. The saturation magnetization decreases monotonically which can be understood in terms of a simple dilution model.