A Phenomenological Description of the Sequence of Phase Transitions in Intermetallics

Abstract

A phenomenological model of the sequence of phase transitions in RCo₂ intermetallics (R = Gd, Tb, Nd, Ho, Er, Sm), constructed by means of catastrophe theory, is proposed. The temperature dependence of an anomalous part of the heat capacity and field dependences of magnetization near the temperature of a phase transition are calculated within the scope of this model. A comparison shows a satisfactory qualitative fit with experimental data.