Physical Properties and Magnetic transitions in the Laves Phase compoud NdCo₂

The investigation of RCo₂ compounds is intriguing due to the interplay between the underlying pyrochlore lattice

and resulting magnetic structures, which display distinctive metamagnetic transitions under the influence of an

external magnetic field [1]. In this study, we explore the magnetic transitions and the magnetic anisotropy in

single crystals of NdCo2 using torque magnetometry. The distortion is measured through the use of a piezore-

sistive cantilever chip as a function of the magnetic field, angular orientation, and temperature. We will discuss

the nature of the 3d -4f coupling and its relation to the observed magnetic phenomenon.

[1] Z. W. Ouyang, F. W. Wang, Q. Huang, W. F. Liu, Y. G. Xiao, J. W. Lynn, J. K. Liang, and G. H. Rao.

Magnetic structure, magnetostriction, and magnetic transitions of the laves-phase compound Ndco2. Phys.

Rev. B, 71:064405, Feb 2005.