First order metamagnetic transition in CeFe$_2$ based pseudobinary alloys

Abstract

We present results of dc magnetisation study showing that the low temperature antiferromagnetic state in various CeFe$_2$-based pseudobinary alloys can be transformed into ferromagnetic state through a magnetic field induced phase transition. We highlight the presence of hysteresis and phase coexistence across this metamagnetic transition and argue that the observed phase transition is of first order in nature.Comment: 11 pages of text and 9 figures ; to appear in Journal of Physics: Condens. Matte