Antiferromagnetic ordering in NdAuGe compound

作者：Bashir A K H; Tchokonte M B Tchoula^*; Snyman J L; Sondezi B M; Strydom A M

来源：Journal of Applied Physics, 2014, 115(17): 17E134.

DOI：10.1063/1.4869439

The compound NdAuGe was investigated by means of electrical resistivity, rho(T), magnetic susceptibility, chi(T), magnetization, sigma(mu H-0), and specific heat, C-p(T), measurements. Powder X-ray diffraction studies confirm a hexagonal LiGaGe-type structure with space group P6(3)mc (No. 186). rho(T) data show normal metallic behaviour and a tendency toward saturation at higher temperatures. The low temperature rho(T) data indicate a phase transition around 3.8K. The low field dc chi(T) data show an antiferromagnetic anomaly associated with a Neel temperature at T-N = 3.7K close to the phase transition observed in rho(T) results. At higher temperatures, chi(T) follows the paramagnetic Curie-Weiss behaviour with an effective magnetic moment mu(eff) = 3.546(4) mu(B) and a paramagnetic Weiss temperature of hp theta(p) = 6.1(4)K. The value obtained for leff is close to the value of 3.62 mu(B) expected for the free Nd3+-ion. sigma(mu H-0) shows a linear behaviour with applied field up to 3 T with an evidence of metamagnetic behaviour above 3 T. C-p(T) confirms the magnetic phase transition at T-N = 3.4K. The 4f-electron specific heat indicates a Schottky-type anomaly around 16.5K with energy splitting Delta(1) = 25.8(4) K and Delta(2) = 50.7(4) K of the Nd3+ (J = 9/2) multiplet, that are associated with, respectively, the first and second excited states of the Nd3+-ion.

• 出版日期2014-5-7