Large variations in the magnetic ordering behavior of EuCu(2)As(2) with the application of external pressure and magnetic field

The influence of external pressure on the electrical transport and magnetic properties of EuCu(2)As(2), crystallizing in a ThCr(2)Si(2)-type structure, is reported. The system is known to be an antiferromagnet below T(N) ≈ 15 K in the absence of external magnetic fields. We find that there is a gradual reduction of T(N) with the application of a magnetic field with an extrapolated value of the critical field of around 18 kOe which can drive T(N) to zero. Electrical resistivity under pressure (<11 GPa) reveals that the magnetic ordering temperature is pushed up dramatically to higher temperatures which is quite interesting if compared with the behavior in isostructural FeAs-based systems containing Eu. Above 7 GPa, the pressure-induced state appears to be ferromagnetic. The results thus reveal interesting changes in the magnetic ordering behavior of this compound with increasing pressure and magnetic fields.     

Magnetic anomalies in CeIn(2)

The magnetic behavior of binary compound CeIn(2) has been reported to be unusual in the sense that this compound appears to exhibit a first-order ferromagnetic transition at a rather high temperature of (T(C)=)22 K, which is not so common for Ce systems. In order to throw more light on the magnetic behavior of this compound, we have carried out detailed magnetization, and electrical resistivity studies as a function of temperature, magnetic field and external pressure, in addition to heat-capacity measurements. The plots of H/M versus M(2) at low fields are interestingly characterized by negative slopes, not only near T(C), but also at lower temperatures, a source of which could be attributed to magnetic-field-induced transitions at much lower temperatures. The sign of magnetoresistance tends to change from positive to negative with increasing temperature, as though there is a gradual change in the magnetic character. Finally, the magnetic ordering temperature increases with increasing pressure (until 20 kbar), as though this compound lies at the left-hand side of the peak in Doniach’s magnetic phase diagram.     

Negative chemical pressure effects induced by Y substitution for Ca on the ‘exotic’ magnetic behavior of the spin-chain compound, Ca3Co2O6

The magnetic behavior of a solid solution, Ca_{3 x} Y_x CO₂ O₆, based on the ‘exotic’ spin-chain compound, Ca₃Co₂O₆, crystallizing in K₄CdCl₆-derived rhombohedral structure is investigated. Among the compositions investigated(x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0), single-phase formation persists up tox = 0.75, with the elongation of the c-axis. The present investigations reveal that the temperature at which the ‘so-called’ ‘partially disordered antiferromagnetic structure’ sets in (which occurs at 24 K for the parent compound,x = 0.0) undergoes gradual reduction with the substitution of Y for Ca, attaining the value of about 2.2 K for the nominalx = 1.0. The trend observed in this characteristic temperature is opposite to that reported under external pressure, thereby establishing that Y substitution exerts negative chemical pressure. Anomalous steps observed in the isothermal magnetization at very low temperatures (around 2 K) forx = 0.0, which have been proposed to arise from ‘quantum tunneling effects’ are found to vanish by a small substitution (x = 0.3) of Y for Ca. Systematics in AC and DC magnetic susceptibility behavior with Y substitution for Ca have also been probed. We believe that the present results involving the expansion of chain length without disrupting the magnetic chain may be useful to the overall understanding of the novel magnetism of the parent compound.     

The growth of a single crystal of Sr3CuIrO6 and its magnetic behavior compared to polycrystals

We have grown single crystals of the psuedo-one-dimensional compound Sr₃CuIrO₆, a K₄CdCl₆-derived monoclinic structure with Cu-Ir chains along the [101] direction. We present the ac and dc magnetization behavior of the single crystals in comparison with that of the polycrystalline form reported earlier. There is a distinct evidence for at least two magnetic transitions, at 5 K (T ₁) and 19 K (T ₂), with different relative magnitudes in the single and polycrystals. The low temperature magnetic relaxation behavior of both the forms is found to be widely different, exhibiting unexpected time dependence.     

Enhanced electrical resistivity before Néel order in the metals RCuAs2 (R=Sm,Gd, Tb,and Dy)

We report an unusual temperature (T) dependent electrical resistivity (rho) behavior in a class of ternary intermetallic compounds of the type RCuAs2 (R=rare earths). For some rare earths (Sm, Gd, Tb, and Dy) with negligible 4f hybridization, there is a pronounced minimum in rho(T) far above respective Néel temperatures (T(N)). However, for the rare earths which are more prone to exhibit such a rho(T) minimum due to 4f-covalent mixing and the Kondo effect, this minimum is depressed. These findings, difficult to explain within the hitherto-known concepts, present an interesting scenario in magnetism.     

Intermediate valence in rare earth systems

The current status of the phenomenon of intermediate valence in rare earth systems is surveyed. Particular attention is paid to the merits and demerits of various experimental methods employed to obtain the value of the mean valence of the rare earth ion, followed by the discussion on the cerium problem.     

ESR investigation of the spin dynamics in (Gd1−xYx)2PdSi3

We report electron-spin resonance (ESR) measurements in polycrystalline samples of (Gd_1−xY_x)₂PdSi₃. We observe the onset of a broadening of the linewidth and of a decrease of the resonance field at approximately twice the Néel temperature in the paramagnetic state. This characteristic temperature coincides with the electrical resistivity minimum. The high-temperature behavior of the linewidth is governed by a strong bottleneck effect.     

Magnetic anomalies in single crystalline ErPd2Si2

Considering certain interesting features in the previously reported ¹⁶⁶Er Mössbauer effect, and neutron diffraction data on the polycrystalline form of ErPd₂Si₂ crystallizing in the ThCr₂Si₂-type tetragonal structure, we have carried out magnetic measurements (1.8–300 K) on the single crystalline form of this compound. We observe significant anisotropy in the absolute values of magnetization (indicating that the easy axis is c-axis) as well as in features due to magnetic ordering in the plot of magnetic susceptibility χ versus temperature T at low temperatures. The χ(T) data reveal that there is a pseudo-low-dimensional magnetic order setting in at 4.8 K, with a three-dimensional antiferromagnetic order setting in at a lower temperature (3.8 K). A new finding in the χ(T) data is that, for H∥〈1 1 0〉 but not for H∥〈0 0 1〉, there is a broad shoulder in the range 8–20 K, indicative of the existence of magnetic correlations above 5 K as well, which could be related to the previously reported slow-relaxation-dominated Mössbauer spectra. Interestingly, the temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity is found to be isotropic; no feature due to magnetic ordering could be detected in the electrical resistivity data at low temperatures, which is attributed to magnetic Brillioun-zone boundary gap effects. The results reveal the complex nature of magnetism of this compound.