Spin-glass ordering in amorphous Tb-Cr alloys

This paper discusses amorphous TbxCr100−x alloys (x=16, 28.5, 43, and 59 at.%) obtained by quenching from the vapor phase. It is found that the structure of the alloys is heterogeneous: the coexistence of two amorphous phases, characterized by different short-range order, is observed. The short-range order of these phases qualitatively corresponds to the structure of pure components (Cr or Tb). In the low-temperature region, the alloys transform to the spin-glass state. It is established that the transition temperatures to the spin-glass state depends on the composition linearly, increasing as the terbium concentration increases. It is shown that the magnetic properties of amorphous Tb-Cr alloys are determined by the random magnetic anisotropy associated with the Tb atoms.