Thermomagnetic hysteresis in amorphous TbCr alloys

Abstract Structure and magnetization of Tb x Cr 100− x amorphous alloys ( x = 16, 28.5, 43 and 59 at%) have been studied. It was observed that two types of a local atomic environment, characterized by a different short-range order, coexist in the alloys. Thermomagnetic hysteresis, indicating a transition from a paramagnetic to a spin-glass-like state was observed in all alloys. The transition temperature depends strongly on the composition, linearly rising with increasing Tb concentration. It is shown that the magnetic ordered state is governed by the random magnetic anisotropy associated with Tb.