The role of pressure-induced stacking faults on the magnetic properties of gadolinium

TL;DR

This paper investigates how pressure-induced stacking faults in gadolinium influence its magnetic properties, providing a theoretical model that accurately predicts changes in Curie temperature during structural transitions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach modeling structural transitions as stacking faults, improving the understanding of pressure effects on Gd's magnetism.

Findings

Theoretical model matches experimental Curie temperature variation.

Stacking faults significantly affect magnetic properties under pressure.

Structural transitions correlate with changes in magnetic behavior.

Abstract

Experimental data show that under pressure, Gd goes through a series of structural transitions hcp to Sm-type (close-packed rhombohedral) to dhcp that is accompanied by a gradual decrease of the Curie temperature and magnetization till the collapse of a finite magnetization close to the dhcp structure. We explore theoretically the pressure-induced changes of the magnetic properties, by describing these structural transitions as the formation of fcc stackings faults. Using this approach, we are able to describe correctly the variation of the Curie temperature with pressure, in contrast to a static structural model using the hcp structure.