Magnetic Ordering in Gold-Iron Alloys

Abstract

In an attempt to characterize the magnetic ordering in $\mathrm{Au}\mathrm{Fe}$ alloys, systematic studies were made of the temperature dependences of the thermoelectric power $S$ and the low-field magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}$ for Fe concentrations $C$ from 1 to 22 at.%. The concentration dependences of the magnitude and temperature of the maximum in $S(T)$ showed transitions clearly related to the magnetic ordering. Data analyses based on molecular field theories indicate the existence of small regions of short-range ferromagnetic order which undergo longrange interactions as the temperature is lowered. For $C\ensuremath{\gtrsim}12$ at.%, long-range ferromagnetism is dominant. Lower-concentration alloys ($C\ensuremath{\lesssim}12$ at.%) exhibit an antiferromagnetism with some properties similar to those of a magnetic spin-glass, but with well-defined ordering temperatures characterized by sharp cusps in $\ensuremath{\chi}(T)$, and with a negative Curie $\ensuremath{\theta}$ for $C=1 \mathrm{and} 2$ at.%. These properties indicate a more perfect antiferromagnetic order than that expected for a random alloy or a spin-glass, and this may be related to preferred local lattice arrangements in these alloys.