Specific heat of GdNi1 − xCux compounds

The results of specific heat measurements on the pseudobinary compounds GdNi1-xCux (x = 0, 0.3 and 0.6) are reported. The shape of the magnetic contribution to the specific heat and the value of the discontinuity at the ordering temperature are correlated with the type of magnetic structures involved showing significant differences between ferromagnetic x = 0 and x = 0.3 compounds and the helimagnetic GdNi0.4Cu0.6. The relationship between the magnetic specific heat and the magnetic electrical resistivity is also stressed.