The change in the character of phase transition with nickel in the Ho(Co, Ni)₂ compounds

The series Ho(Co_1-cN_c)₂ has been investigated in the composition range c≤0.15 by spin-echo NMR of ¹⁶⁵Ho and by magnetic measurements. From NMR data a value of (9.5±0.1)μ_B is estimated for holmium in HoCo₂. Magnetisation measurements on the same compound give (7.9±0.1)μ_B/fu. An assumption of 0.8μ_B for the cobalt moment aligned antiparallel to that of holmium leads to a value of 9.5μ_B for holmium in agreement with the value estimated from NMR. The substitution of nickel for cobalt causes a rapid fall in both the hyperfine field, and the ordering temperatures, while the molecular moment shows a simultaneous rise. These are attributed to a rapid fall in the cobalt moment which leads to a bootstrap process involving the strength of the exchange field and the magnitude of the cobalt moment. Nickel substitution also leads to a change in the character of the magnetic phase transition. Initially first order, this transition becomes second order on exceeding ≈ 9 at% Ni.