Temperature dependence of the spin and orbital magnetization density in $Sm_{1-x}Gd_{x} Al_{2}$ around the spin-orbital compensation point
Non-resonant ferromagnetic x-ray diffraction has been used to separate the spin and orbital contribution to the magnetization density of the proposed zero-moment ferromagnet $Sm_{0.982}Gd_{0.018} Al_{2}$. The alignment of the spin and orbital moments relative to the net magnetization shows a sign reversal at 84K, the compensation temperature. Below this temperature the orbital moment is larger than the spin moment, and vice versa above it. This result implies that the compensation mechanism is driven by the different temperature dependencies of the $4f$ spin and orbital moments. Specific heat data indicate that the system remains ferromagnetically ordered throughout.