The point-contact spectroscopy of DyMn6Ge6 and DyFe6Ge6

Abstract We have used point-contact (PC) spectroscopy to study two related 1:6:6 rare earth transition metal–metal with complex magnetic order. The compound DyMn 6 Ge 6 with HfFe 6 Ge 6 -type structure is a ferromagnetic incommensurate helimagnet with local antiferromagnetic coupling of Mn- and Dy-sublattice. The compound DyFe 6 Ge 6 with TbFe 6 Ge 6 -type structure shows antiferromagnetic order in the Fe-sublattice and an independent order of the Dy-sublattice at low temperature. Both homocontacts of meltspun ribbons from these compounds and heterocontacts with Cu or Pt have been obtained. We present a comparison of PC metallic and tunnelling characteristics measured on DyMn 6 Ge 6 , DyFe 6 Ge 6 .