MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF RARE-EARTH COPPER INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS, RCU2 .2. LIGHT RARE-EARTH

Measurements of magnetization and susceptibility have been made on light rare earth-copper intermetallic compounds, RCu2. The NdCu2 compound shows antiferromagnetism at low temperatures but CeCu2 and PrCu2 compounds show no magnetic ordering down to 4.2 K. In the paramagnetic region, the susceptibility for PrCu2 and NdCu2 compounds obeys the Curie-Weiss law and there is a large anisotropy in the paramagnetic Curie temperature along the three principal axes. The crystal field parameters V02 and V22 of PrCu2 and NdCu2 compounds are determined from the values of the anisotropic paramagnetic Curie temperature. © 1979, THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.