Crystal structure, magnetizations of sublattices, and the spin-reorientation transition in the Er2Fe17N2.18 compound

The structural and magnetic properties of the Er2Fe17N2.18 compound have been studied for polycrystalline samples by neutron diffraction in the temperature range 4-700 K. The experimental temperature dependences of the magnetization of the erbium and iron atoms have been compared with those calculated within the molecular-field theory. With the use of the known model, the spin-reorientation transition has been interpreted and the numerical values of the first constants of the magnetic anisotropy for the Er and Fe atoms have been determined.