Elastic Properties of Ho0.5Er0.5 Single Crystal

The results of an investigation of the Young's modulus E and the internal friction Q-1 of a Ho0.5Er0.5 single crystal in the basal plane in the temperature range 4.2-400 K are reported. The measurements were carried out by the method of flexural autovibrations of a thin sample with sound frequency (3 kHz). The Young's modulus at 4.2 K was measured to be 154 GPa. From the obtained data the magnetic part of the Young's modulus and the Debye temperature ΘD = 375 K were calculated. The anomalies on the Young's modulus and the internal friction temperature dependencies corresponding to magnetic phase transitions and magnetic structures present in the alloy are determined and discussed.