Heat-capacity anomaly due to spin reorientation and thermodynamic functions of ErFeO3 and TmFeO3

Abstract Heat capacities of orthoferrites, ErFeO 3 and TmFeO 3 , have been measured below room temperature by adiabatic calorimetry. A broad but definite anomaly due to the spin reorientation phenomenon was successfully detected in the expected temperature range (ca. 90 K). The results are compared with a vast anomaly reported for YbFeO 3 . The temperature dependence of the electric quadrupole splitting of the Fe nuclear levels was determined by Mossbauer spectroscopy through the spin reorientation. A heat capacity anomaly centered at 3.60 K due to the magnetic ordering of Er 3+ ions was clearly detected. Some Schottky anomalies were resolved and energy splittings involved were roughly esti…