| Abstract: | We have synthesized single crystals of CeZnAl_3,which is a new member of family of Ce-based intermetallics CeTX_3(T=transition metal, X=Si, Ge, Al), crystallizing in the non-centrosymmetric tetragonal BaNiSn_3-type structure. Magnetization,specific heat and resistivity measurements all show that CeZnAl_3 orders magnetically below around 4.4 K. Furthermore,magnetization measurements exhibit a hysteresis loop at low temperatures and fields, indicating the presence of a ferromagnetic component in the magnetic state. This points to a different nature of the magnetism in CeZnAl_3 compared to the other isostructural CeTAl_3 compounds. Resistivity measurements under pressures up to 1.8 GPa show a moderate suppression of the ordering temperature with pressure, suggesting that measurements to higher pressures are required to look for quantum critical behavior. |
