Measurements of spin reorientation in YbFeO3 and comparison with modified mean-field theory

Precise measurements of YbFeO3 magnetization in the spin-reoirentation temperature interval are performed. It is shown that ytterbium orthoferrite is well described by the modified mean-field theory recently developed for ErFeO3. This validates the conjecture about the essential influence of the rare-earth ion's anisotropic paramagnetism on the magnetization behavior in the reorientation regions of all orthoferrites with Γ4→Γ24→ Γ2 phase transitions. © 2005 The American Physical Society.