Magnetoelastic properties of (Rare-Earth)–Co2 compounds. II. The anisotropic magnetostriction

The anisotropic magnetostriction of the cubic Laves-phase compounds RCo2 (R = Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er) has been measured from 4.2 K to above the ordering temperatures. Large magnetostrictions are observed for all compounds except GdCo2 the largest effect being in TbCo2. An attempt is made to deduce the single crystal magnetostriction constants from the measured data and it is concluded that no simple model will account for them. Large volume strains are observed notably in PrCo2 and ErCo2 which are tentatively attributed to a large volume-dependence of the anisotropy.