Anisotropic magnetic properties and crystal electric field studies on CePd₂Ge₂single crystal

Abstract

Abstract.The anisotropic magnetic properties of the antiferromagnetic compound CePd 2 Ge 2 , crystallizing in the tetragonal crystal structure have been investigated in detail on a single crystal grown by Czochralski method. From the electrical transport, magnetization and heat capacity data, the Néel temperature is confirmed to be 5.1 K. Anisotropic behaviour of magnetization and resistivity is observed along the two principal crystallographic directions viz., [100] and [001]. The isothermal magnetization measured in the magnetically ordered state at 2 K exhibits a spin reorientation at 13.5 T for field applied along [100] direction, whereas the magnetization was linear along the [001] direction attaining a value of 0.94 µ B /Ce at 14 T. The reduced value of the magnetization is attributed to the crystalline electric field (CEF) effects. A sharp jump in the specific heat at the magnetic ordering temperature is observed. After subtracting the phononic contribution, the jump in the heat capacity amounts to 12.5 J/K mol which is the expected value for a spin 1 2 system. From the CEF analysis of the magnetization data the excited crystal field split energy levels were estimated to be at 120 K and 230 K respectively, which quantitatively explain the observed Schottky anomaly in the heat capacity. A magnetic phase diagram has been constructed based on the field dependence of magnetic susceptibility and the heat capacity data.

Ising-type Magnetic Anisotropy in CePd2As2

“…Their magnetism is commonly determined by a large magneto-crystalline anisotropy. This leads to the presence of distinct field-induced metamagnetic transitions [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] . Depending on the strength of the magnetic anisotropy, the nature of the metamagnetic transition(s) may differ.…”

Synthesis and anisotropic properties of single crystalline Ln2Ru3Al15+ (Ln=Gd, Tb)

“…The non-spherical crystalline electric field (CEF) surrounding the f-orbitals of lanthanide containing intermetallics (Ln = Ce-Eu, Tb-Yb) can affect their magnetic properties in many ways. Common CEF effects include non-magnetic [7,8] or reduced moment ground states, deviation from Curie-Weiss behavior [9][10][11], and anisotropic magnetization [5,[12][13][14]. In some cases, this anisotropy can become extremely pronounced.…”