Calorimetric and Magnetic Study of the Holmium

Calorimetric measurements have been performed on a series of cubic Laves phase compounds Ho(Co _{rm 1-x}Rh_ {rm x})_2 for x = 0.02, 0.05, 0.08, 0.12, 0.16, and 0.25. The heat capacity data show first-order type peaks at the ferromagnetic transition temperature T_{rm c} for concentrations with x- values between 0.02 and 0.08. For larger concentrations, the peaks at T_{rm c} are much broader and more suggestive of a second-order transition. Utilizing the "s-d" model in conjunction with the specific heat data suggests that the change from first- to second-order in the ferromagnetic transition for x _sp{ ~}{>} 0.10 is due to a reduction in the magnetic exchange interactions between the Ho 4f moments and the cobalt 3d electrons. In addition, the calorimetric data for x <=q 0.16 show another first-order peak at a lower temperature T _{rm sf} which can be associated with a change in the easy magnetization direction of the Ho moments.