An experimental investigation of the lattice-magnetism interactions in rare earth and transition metal compounds

The interaction between magnetism and the nuclear lattice is investigated experimentally, using thermal expansion, magnetostriction, specific heat, magnetisation and neutron scattering measurements. Both localised moment systems, as represented by the rare earth compounds Tb2Agln, Pd2Gdln and Cu2Gdln, as well as transition metal compounds, Ni2MnGa and V20 3 have been characterised at low temperatures. Measurements of the lattice properties are important due to the intrinsic coupling of magnetic degrees of freedom to them. The response of the lattice to magnetic order, and also to applied magnetic fields have been probed by the use of the aforementioned techniques. Such techniques allow the direct determination of the coefficient of linear thermal expansion, over a wide temperature range and the forced magnetostriclion in applied fields of 0 to 7T. Indirect determination of the spontaneous magnetostriction and the total magnetic entropy contribution via measurements of isostructural compounds further enhance the range of experimental data available. The dynamic properties are characterised by spin polarised neutron scattering measurements. The experimental results are presented and discussed. Various methods of coupling lattice and electronic degrees of freedom have been investigated. It is argued that in order to fully understand and appreciate the low temperature properties of the materials investigated such a coupling must be taken into account.