Specific heat and resistivity of an amorphous alloy, Fe34Pd46P20, near its ferromagnetic phase transition

Abstract

Specific-heat and resistivity measurements are reported for an amorphous ferromagnetic alloy Fe34Pd46P20. We find a sharp, well-defined phase transition into the ferromagnetic state at 205 K, despite the low concentration of magnetic iron atoms. Analysis of the temperature derivative of the resistivity yields information on the critical exponents α=α′=-0.065±0.05. The specific heat shows only a small anomaly at the ferromagnetic transition. This behavior is explained by the alloy's proximity to the percolation threshold for a uniform ferromagnetic state. © 1978 The American Physical Society.