5,101 research outputs found
Antiferromagnetism in EuCu2As2 and EuCu1.82Sb2 Single Crystals
Single crystals of EuCu2As2 and EuCu2Sb2 were grown from CuAs and CuSb
self-flux, respectively. The crystallographic, magnetic, thermal and electronic
transport properties of the single crystals were investigated by
room-temperature x-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetic susceptibility \chi versus
temperature T, isothermal magnetization M versus magnetic field H, specific
heat Cp(T) and electrical resistivity \rho(T) measurements. EuCu2As2
crystallizes in the body-centered tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type structure (space
group I4/mmm), whereas EuCu2Sb2 crystallizes in the related primitive
tetragonal CaBe2Ge2-type structure (space group P4/nmm). The energy-dispersive
x-ray spectroscopy and XRD data for the EuCu2Sb2 crystals showed the presence
of vacancies on the Cu sites, yielding the actual composition EuCu1.82Sb2. The
\rho(T) and Cp(T) data reveal metallic character for both EuCu2As2 and
EuCu1.82Sb2. Antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering is indicated from the \chi(T),
Cp(T), and \rho(T) data for both EuCu2As2 (T_N = 17.5 K) and EuCu1.82Sb2 (T_N =
5.1 K). In EuCu1.82Sb2, the ordered-state \chi(T) and M(H) data suggest either
a collinear A-type AFM ordering of Eu+2 spins S=7/2 or a planar noncollinear
AFM structure, with the ordered moments oriented in the tetragonal ab plane in
either case. This ordered-moment orientation for the A-type AFM is consistent
with calculations with magnetic dipole interactions. The anisotropic \chi(T)
and isothermal M(H) data for EuCu2As2, also containing Eu+2 spins S=7/2,
strongly deviate from the predictions of molecular field theory for collinear
AFM ordering and the AFM structure appears to be both noncollinear and
noncoplanar.Comment: 21 pages, 22 figures, 4 Table
Metallic behavior induced by potassium doping of the trigonal antiferromagnetic insulator EuMn2As2
We report magnetic susceptibility \chi, isothermal magnetization M, heat
capacity C_p and electrical resistivity \rho measurements on undoped EuMn2As2
and K-doped Eu0.96K0.04Mn2As2 and Eu0.93K0.07Mn2As2 single crystals with the
trigonal CaAl2Si2-type structure as a function of temperature T and magnetic
field H. EuMn2As2 has an insulating ground state with an activation energy of
52 meV and exhibits antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of the Eu+2 spins S=7/2 at
T_N1 = 15 K from C_p(T) and \chi(T) data with a likely spin-reorientation
transition at T_N2 = 5.0 K. The Mn+2 3d5 spins-5/2 exhibit AFM ordering at T_N
= 142 K from all three types of measurements. The M(H) isotherm and \chi(T)
data indicate that the Eu AFM structure is both noncollinear and noncoplanar.
The AFM structure of the Mn spins is also unclear. A 4% substitution of K for
Eu in Eu0.96K0.04Mn2As2 is sufficient to induce a metallic ground state.
Evidence is found for a difference in the AFM structure of the Eu moments in
the metallic crystals from that of undoped EuMn2As2 versus both T and H. For
metallic Eu0.96K0.04Mn2As2 and Eu0.93K0.07Mn2As2, an anomalous S-shape T
dependence of \rho related to the Mn magnetism is found. Upon cooling from 200
K, \rho exhibits a strong negative curvature, reaches maximum positive slope at
the Mn T_N ~ 150 K, and then continues to decrease but more slowly below T_N.
This suggests that dynamic short-range AFM order of the Mn spins above the Mn
T_N strongly suppresses the resistivity, contrary to the conventional decrease
of \rho that is only observed upon cooling below T_N of an antiferromagnet.Comment: 21 pages, 22 figures, 4 Table
Physical properties of EuPd2As2 single crystals
The physical properties of self-flux grown EuPd2As2 single crystals have been
investigated by magnetization M, magnetic susceptibility chi, specific heat Cp,
and electrical resistivity rho measurements versus temperature T and magnetic
field H. The crystal structure was determined by powder x-ray diffraction
measurements, which confirmed the ThCr2Si2-type body-centered tetragonal
structure (space group I4/mmm) reported previously. The rho(T) data indicate
that state of EuPd2As2 is metallic. Long-range antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering
is apparent from the chi(T), Cp(T), and rho(T) measurements. For H \parallel c
the chi(T) indicates two transitions at TN1 = 11.0 K and TN2 = 5.5 K, whereas
for H \perp c only one transition is observed at TN1 = 11.0 K. Between TN1 and
TN2 the anisotropic chi(T) data suggest a planar noncollinear AFM structure,
whereas at T < TN2 the chi(T) and M(H,T) data suggest a spin reorientation
transition in which equal numbers of spins cant in opposite directions out of
the ab plane. We estimate the critical field at 2 K at which all Eu moments
become aligned with the field to be about 22 T. The magnetic entropy at 25 K
estimated from the Cp(T) measurements is about smaller than expected,
possibly due to an inaccuracy in the lattice heat capacity contribution. An
upturn in rho at T < TN1 suggests superzone energy gap formation below TN1.
This behavior of rho(T < TN1) is not sensitive to applied magnetic fields up to
H = 12 T.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables and 52 references; To appear in J.
Phys.: Condens. Matte
Investigations of the effect of nonmagnetic Ca substitution for magnetic Dy on spin-freezing in Dy2Ti2O7
Physical properties of partially Ca substituted hole-doped Dy2Ti2O7 have been
investigated by ac magnetic susceptibility \chi_ac(T), dc magnetic
susceptibility \chi(T), isothermal magnetization M(H) and heat capacity C_p(T)
measurements on Dy1.8Ca0.2Ti2O7. The spin-ice system Dy2Ti2O7 exhibits a
spin-glass type freezing behavior near 16 K. Our frequency dependent \chi_ac(T)
data of Dy1.8Ca0.2Ti2O7 show that the spin-freezing behavior is significantly
influenced by Ca substitution. The effect of partial nonmagnetic Ca2+
substitution for magnetic Dy3+ is similar to the previous study on nonmagnetic
isovalent Y3+ substituted Dy2-xYxTi2O7 (for low levels of dilution), however
the suppression of spin-freezing behavior is substantially stronger for Ca than
Y. The Cole-Cole plot analysis reveals semicircular character and a single
relaxation mode in Dy1.8Ca0.2Ti2O7 as for Dy2Ti2O7. No noticeable change in the
insulating behavior of Dy2Ti2O7 results from the holes produced by 10% Ca2+
substitution for Dy3+ ions.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl
Superconductivity and Physical Properties of CaPd2Ge2 Single Crystals
We present the superconducting and normal state properties of CaPd2Ge2 single
crystal investigated by magnetic susceptibility \chi, isothermal magnetization
M, heat capacity C_p, in-plane electrical resistivity \rho and London
penetration depth \lambda versus temperature T and magnetic field H
measurements. Bulk superconductivity is inferred from the \rho(T) and C_p(T)
data. The \rho(T) data exhibit metallic behavior and undergoes a
superconducting transition with T_c onset = 1.98 K and zero resistivity state
at T_c 0 = 1.67 K. The \chi(T) reveal the onset of superconductivity at 2.0 K.
For T>2.0 K, the \chi(T) and M(H) are weakly anisotropic paramagnetic with
\chi_ab > \chi_c. The C_p(T) confirm the bulk superconductivity below T_c =
1.69(3) K. The superconducting state electronic heat capacity is analyzed
within the framework of a single-band \alpha-model of BCS superconductivity and
various normal and superconducting state parameters are estimated. Within the
\alpha-model, the C_p(T) data and the ab plane \lambda(T) data consistently
indicate a moderately anisotropic s-wave gap with \Delta(0)/k_B T_c ~ 1.6,
somewhat smaller than the BCS value of 1.764. The relationship of the heat
capacity jump at T_c and the penetration depth measurement to the anisotropy in
the s-wave gap is discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, 2 Tables; Submitted to PR
Crystal field states of Kondo lattice heavy fermions CeRuSn3 and CeRhSn3
Inelastic neutron scattering experiments have been carried out to determine
the crystal field states of the Kondo lattice heavy fermions CeRuSn3 and
CeRhSn3. Both the compounds crystallize in LaRuSn3-type cubic structure (space
group Pm-3n) in which the Ce atoms occupy two distinct crystallographic sites
with cubic (m-3) and tetragonal (-4m.2) point symmetries. The INS data of
CeRuSn3 reveal the presence of a broad excitation centered around 6-8 meV which
is accounted by a model based on crystal electric field (CEF) excitations. On
the other hand, the INS data of isostructural CeRhSn3 reveal three CEF
excitations around 7.0, 12.2 and 37.2 meV. The neutron intensity sum rule
indicates that the Ce ions at both cubic and tetragonal Ce sites are in Ce3+
state in both CeRuSn3 and CeRhSn3. The CEF level schemes for both the compounds
are deduced. We estimate the Kondo temperature T_K = 3.1(2) K for CeRuSn3 from
neutron quasielastic linewidth in excellent agreement with that determined from
the scaling of magnetoresistance which gives T_K = 3.2(1) K. For CeRhSn3 the
neutron quasielastic linewidth gives T_K = 4.6 K. For both CeRuSn3 and CeRhSn3,
the ground state of Ce3+ turns out to be a quartet for the cubic site and a
doublet for the tetragonal site.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables, to appear in Phys. Rev.
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