Phase Transitions Induced in HoCo$\text{}_{3}$Ni$\text{}_{2}$ Single Crystals

The magnetic studies of temperature and field induced phase transitions were performed on single crystals of HoCo$\text{}_{3}$Ni$\text{}_{2}$ compound. The rotational-type spin reorientation was found between T$\text{}_{SR1}$ = 160 K and T$\text{}_{SR2}$ = 200 K. In the vicinity of T$\text{}_{SR1}$ two different field induced transitions were observed: the first order moment reorientation type transition in the basal plane and the spin reorientation from the easy plane to the c-axis with simultaneous increase in spontaneous magnetization. The intersublattice molecular field coefficient as well as the magnetization anisotropy of Ho sublattice were determined. The observed magnetic behaviour was analysed within the framework of the spin-reorientation model, taking into account the change of the intrinsic states of rare-earth ions caused by their huge anisotropy energy. The thermal variation of the anisotropy constants of the studied compound is also presented.