ARTICLE IN PRESS

Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 272–276 (2004) 2060–2061

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetostriction in

ordered and disordered Fe–Ga single crystals
A. Kumagaia,*, A. Fujitaa, K. Fukamichia, K. Oikawab, R. Kainumaa, K. Ishidac
a
Department of Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba-yama 02, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
b
National Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Sendai 983-8551, Japan
c
New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Aoba-yama, Sendai 980-8579, Japan

Abstract

On the basis of our new equilibrium phase diagram, Fe1
xGax (x ¼ 0:2420:25) single crystals with the A2, B2 and
D03 structures have been prepared in order to investigate the magnetocrystalline anisotropies and magnetostrictions.
The [1 1 0] direction was identified as a hard axis and the anisotropy coefficients were jK2 j > K1 > 0; 0 > K2 in the A2 and
B2 structures. Lowering the symmetry of the atomic arrangement, the magnetostriction of the [1 0 0] direction becomes
larger. These results agree with qualitatively the theoretical calculations.
r 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PACS: 75.30.Gw; 75.80.+q

Keywords: Equilibrium phase diagram; Fe–Ga; Magnetocrystalline anisotropy; Magnetostriction

A large magnetostriction in Fe1
xGax has been In the present paper, Fe1
xGax (x ¼ 0:2420:25) single
observed around x¼ 0:19 [1]. The magnetostriction of crystals with the A2, B2 and D03 structures were
Fe–Ga alloys with x > 0:19 is decreased due to the prepared on the basis of a new equilibrium phase
change in the crystal structure from an A2-disorder to a diagram and the changes in the magnetic anisotropies
D03-order phase. Recently, a new equilibrium phase and magnetostrictions were discussed by taking the
diagram for Fe–Ga system has been demonstrated symmetry change in these crystal structures into
ð0:10pxp0:35Þ [2]. Strain dependence of magnetocrys- consideration.
talline anisotropy (MCA) energies of Fe3Ga have been The Fe–Ga single crystals were prepared by an optical
calculated by the first-principles calculations using the floating-zone method, and annealed for homogenization
full potential linearized augmented plane wave method at 1273 K for 60 h. The Ga compositions of these phases
[3]. The spin–orbit interaction occurs between two were determined to be 24–25 at% by an electron probe
nondegenerated dxz and dyz states in the minority spin micro-analyzer method. The crystal structures of D03,
band of Fe d-electrons in a B2 structure resulting in a B2 and A2 were confirmed after quenching from 923,
positive magnetostriction. For the D03 structure, the dxz 963 and 1273 K, respectively. The crystallographic
and dyz states in the minority spin band remain to directions were analyzed by electron backscattering
degenerate because of high symmetry, while the spin– pattern and back-reflection Laue diffraction.
orbit interaction between the dxz and dyz states in the The magnetization curves at T ¼ 10 K for these
majority spin band brings about a negative magneto- specimens with the A2, B2 and D03 structures are
striction. shown in Fig. 1. The saturation magnetic field becomes
highest in the [1 1 0] direction for the A2 and B2
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +81-22-217-7317; fax: +81- structures. On the other hand, the difference in the
22-217-7316. saturation magnetic field was scarcely observed among
E-mail address: kakk@maglab.material.tohoku.ac.jp the [1 0 0], [1 1 0] and [1 1 1] directions for the specimen
(A. Kumagai). with the D03 structure. The difference in energies due to

0304-8853/$ - see front matter r 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jmmm.2003.12.827
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Kumagai et al. / Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 272–276 (2004) 2060–2061 2061

200 200

150 150

[100 ]
100 [100] 100
[110 ]
[110] A2
50 A2 50 [111 ]
[111]

0 0
Magnetization (emu / g)

150 150 B2

λ// (10 )
-6
100 100

50 B2 50

0 0

150 150 D0
3

100
100

50
50 D03

0
0 0 10 20 30 40 50
0 10 20 30 40 50 Magnetic Field (50 kOe)
Magnetic Field (50 kOe)
Fig. 2. The magnetostrictions lJ measured parallel to the
Fig. 1. Magnetization curves at T ¼ 10 K for the specimens magnetic field at T ¼ 300 K for the specimens with the A2, B2
with the A2, B2 and D03 structures. and D03 structures.

the rotation of the directions of magnetization is tions in the minority spin band due to nondegenerated dxz
expressed by and dyz states, resulting in a larger positive magnetostric-
K1 tion. Consequently, the magnetostriction in the A2
E1 1 0
E1 0 0 ¼ ; ð1Þ structure is expected to be larger than that in the B2
4
structure.
K1 K2 Fig. 2 shows the linear magnetostrictions lJ measured
E1 1 1
E1 0 0 ¼ þ ; ð2Þ
3 27 parallel to the magnetic field direction at T ¼ 300 K for
where K1 and K2 are the anisotropy constants of uniaxial the specimens with the A2, B2 and D03 structures. The
and in-plane components, respectively. For the A2 and B2 magnetostriction of the [1 0 0] direction in both the A2 and
structures, the value corresponding to the left-hand side of B2 structures is larger than that of other two directions. It
Eq. (1) is positive because the magnetization for the [1 1 0] should be noted that the magnetostriction of [1 0 0] in the
direction is harder to be saturated, compared with that for A2 structure is larger than that in the B2 structure. On the
the other two directions. Furthermore, E1 1 1
E1 0 0 is other hand, only a slight difference in the magnetostric-
almost zero in these structures as seen from the figures. As tions among three directions is observed in the D03
a result, we obtain the following relations: structure. Accordingly, it is confirmed that lJðA2Þ > lJðB2Þ >
jK2 j > K1 > 0; 0 > K2 ð3Þ lJðD03Þ in harmony with the theoretical calculations [3].

These relations are qualitatively in accord with the

magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) energy EMCA ob-
tained from the first principles band calculations [3]. From References
the strain dependence of EMCA ; the magnetostriction for
[1] A.E. Clark, M. Wun-Fogle, J.B. Restorff, T.A. Lograsso,
these structures has been also calculated. According to the
Proceedings of the Pacific Rim International Conference on
calculated results, it is expected that the magnetostriction Advanced Material and Proceedings (PRICM-4), Honolulu,
in the B2 structure is larger than that in the D03 structure. Hawaii, December, 11–15, 2001, p. 7.
This difference is attributed to the symmetry change of the [2] O. Ikeda, R. Kainuma, I. Ohnuma, K. Fukamichi, K.
atomic arrangements. Namely, the lower symmetry of the Ishida, J. Alloys Comp. 347 (2002) 198.
atomic arrangement, the stronger the spin–orbit interac- [3] R. Wu, J. Appl. Phys. 91 (2002) 73.