X‐ray absorption edge shifts of cobalt and rare earth ions in rare earth–cobalt intermetallic compounds

Chemical shifts Δ E of K‐absorption edge of Co and L 3 ‐absorption edge of Gd, Tb, and Dy in GdCo 3 , TbCo 3 , and DyCo 3 intermetallic compounds are measured and effective charges on the absorbing ions are estimated. It is found that the magnitudes of Δ E and q for Co in RCo 3 (R refers to rare earth ions) lie in between those reported for RCo 5 and RCo 2 compounds. Further, Δ E and q of Co increase with increasing number of rare earth atoms per cobalt atom (RCo 5 < RCo 3 < RCo 2 ) while the magnetic moment of cobalt in these intermetallic compounds indicates the opposite trend (RCo 5 > RCo 3 > RCo 2 ).