On the orientation of the magnetization vector and the associated entropy in Nd2Fe14B

Abstract We have used the methods of classical statistical mechanics in calculating the temperature and field-dependence of specific magnetic and magnetothermal properties of Nd2Fe14B. For example, we correlate the orientation of the magnetization vector, relative to a specific crystallographic axis, to the angular coordinates of the most probable location in a probability landscape of this anisotropic system. Further, we correlate the probability distribution to the associated magnetic entropy. The field dependence of the canting angle, either off the c-axis or off the basal plane, is also discussed in particular for critical magnetic fields at which first-order magnetization process takes place. Specific features of magnetization curves, at certain temperatures, are discussed in the light of results based on models involving crystal field and/or exchange interaction effects.