title: Long range spin ferromagnetic order with zero magnetization in (111)Sm(1-x)Gd(x)Al(2) films.
abstract: Bulk Sm(1-x)Gd(x)Al(2) (0.01<x<0.035) compound exhibits an exciting magnetic property: its magnetization drops to zero at a compensation temperature T(comp) while it maintains a long range ferromagnetic order. We achieved recently the first epitaxial growth of (111)Sm(1-x)Gd(x)Al(2) films by molecular beam epitaxy. Macroscopic magnetization measurements confirmed the existence of a magnetic compensated state, occurring at a temperature that depends on the concentration of Gd. Specific features observed in the Sm(1-x)Gd(x)Al(2) films are a strong [111] perpendicular anisotropy and a very large coercivity. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at Sm and Gd L(2,3) edges allows us to directly evidence the existence of a long range magnetic polarization of the Sm and Gd sublattices at T(comp), and a parallel coupling between the total magnetic moment of Sm(3+) and Gd(3+). Moreover, it is possible to tailor the magnetic behavior at T(comp) by changing the thermo-magnetic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Université H Poincaré Nancy I, BP 239, 54506 Vandoeuvre les Nancy cédex, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avisou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dumesnil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogalev
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Snoeck