Phase Diagram Mapping out the Complex Magnetic Structure of Single Crystals of (Gd, Er)B₄ Solid Solutions

Measurements of specific heat and magnetization in single crystals were used to map out the magnetic phase diagram of Gd1−xErxB4 (x = 0.2 and 0.4) solid solutions along the c-axis. While GdB4 orders antiferromagnetically (AF) at 41.7 K, with the easy plane of magnetization oriented perpendicularly to the c-axis, ErB4 displays AF ordering below 15.4 K, with the easy axis along c. Therefore, in solid solutions, the competition between the different spin anisotropies, as well as frustration, lead to a complex spin configuration. These measurements reveal that a 40% substitution of Er for Gd is sufficient for generating a phase diagram similar to the one for the ErB4 system, characterized by the occurrence of plateau phases and other exotic features attributed to the interplay of competing magnetic anisotropies.