Magnetic Moment in Laves Phase Compound. I. Zr(Fe1-xVx)2 and Zr(Fe1-xCrx)2

In Laves phase compounds Zr(Fe 1- x M x ) 2 where M=V, Cr, the crystal structure changes from MgCu 2 type to MgZn 2 type with composition x . MgCu 2 type compounds are ferromagnetic and MgZn 2 type compounds are paramagnetic. The local symmetry of the surroundings of Fe affects the magnetic moment. Magnetization measurement on MgCu 2 type compounds shows that V and Cr atoms act on the magnetic moment of Fe to decrease at the rate of 1.4 µ B and 0.4 µ B . Decrease of the magnetization is interpreted by assuming a discrete magnetic moment distribution of Fe, which are obtained from the configuration of V or Cr atoms in the surroundings of Fe.