Magnetism and Transport Properties of EuNiSi₃

Abstract

The magnetization M , specific heat C, electrical resistivity ρ and thermopower S of the ternary EuNiSi 3 compound have been measured at temperatures from 2 to 300 K. The high pressure measurements of ρ and S have also been performed. An effective magnetic moment of EuNiSi 3 is estimated as µ eff ≈ 7.5 µ B /Eu, indicating Eu 2+ electron configuration. The anomalous behaviors in M (T), C(T), ρ(T) and S(T) curves are observed at T N ≈ 50 K and T C ≈ 35 K, corresponding to the magnetic phase transitions. An additional anomaly has been observed at T * ≈ 5 K in M (T) and C(T) curves, which might be correspond to the phase transition into the spin freezing state. T C increases rapidly with increasing pressure P. T N also increases with increasing P , and merges with T C at P ≈ 2.5 GPa. The temperature dependences of ρ and S show almost the same features under high pressure, indicating the stable electronic state in the vicinity of the Fermi level.