Field effect on itinerant electron magnetism of Y1$minus;xErxCo2 compounds

Thermopower S and electrical resistivity ρ of cubic Laves phase pseudo-binary compounds Y1−xErxCo2 were measured from 2 to 300 K in magnetic fields up to 15 T . S and ρ show a strong field dependence in a vicinity of the magnetic ordering temperature. The reduction of the exchange magnetic field Bexc acting on Co 3d electrons by Y substitution for Er results in a separation of magnetic transition temperatures of Er and Co subsystems in Y0.4Er0.6Co2. The collapse of the itinerant Co 3d moments of Y0.4Er0.6Co2 is induced by applying external magnetic field about 10 T .