Spin reorientation transition and rare earth ordering in Dy_0.7Er_0.3FeO₃ single crystal

Rare earth orthoferrites, RFeO₃ are antiferromagnets with high transition temperatures (750 K-620 K). They exhibit spin reorientation (SR), exchange bias, multiferroicity and magnetocaloric effects. In ErFeO₃, Fe³⁺ orders antiferromagnetically below 620 K and shows Γ₄ (G_x, A_y, F_z) to Γ₂ (F_x, C_y, G_z) SR transition between 80 K-100 K, while in DyFeO₃, Fe³⁺ shows SR from Γ₄ (G_x, A_y, F_z) to Γ₁ (A_x, G_y, C_z) near 35 K. Er³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ordering occurs below 1.3 K and 4 K respectively in ErFeO₃ and DyFeO₃. Considering the different types of SR transition in Er and Dy ferrites, it would be interesting to study Er substituted DyFeO₃. Float-zone grown Dy_0.7Er_0.3FeO₃ single crystals are characterized by XRD, neutron scattering, and magnetic susceptibility measured on oriented samples. We observe SR transition from Γ₄ to Γ₂ near 20 K and rare earth ordering near 3 K.