Competing Magnetic Interactions in the Intermetallic Compounds Pr 5Ge3 and Nd5Ge3

Author

R. Nirmala
A. V. Morozkin
A. K. Nigam
Jagat Lamsal
W. B. Yelon, Missouri University of Science and Technology
O. Isnard
S. A. Granovsky
K. Kamala Bharathi
S. Quezado
S. K. Malik

Abstract

Magnetic properties of polycrystalline Pr₅Ge₃ and Nd₅Ge₃ (hexagonal, Mn₅Si₃-type) compounds have been studied. Magnetization measurements in 0.5 T field indicate that the Pr₅Ge₃ orders antiferromagnetically at 18 K (TN). However, in an applied field of 10 mT, the zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization bifurcates below ∼65 K. This and the positive paramagnetic Curie temperature, obtained from the Curie-Weiss fit to the paramagnetic susceptibility, suggest the presence of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. the magnetization versus field isotherm at 5 K shows an S-shaped curve and a weak tendency to saturation in fields of 9 T with negligible hysteresis. the magnetic moment attains a value of 1.6μ B/Pr₃ at 5 K in 9 T. the magnetic entropy change near the magnetic transition has been calculated by measuring magnetization versus field isotherms close to TN. the entropy change is found to be considerably large. Neutron diffraction study indicates that below ∼43 K the Nd₅Ge₃ has flat spiral ordering with wave vector K = [0, 0, ± 1/5] (the flat spiral axis coincides with cell parameter, a). Neutron diffraction study of Pr₅Ge₃ suggests that the magnetic structure of Pr₅Ge₃ could be similar to that in Nd₅Ge₃. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.

Recommended Citation

R. Nirmala and A. V. Morozkin and A. K. Nigam and J. Lamsal and W. B. Yelon and O. Isnard and S. A. Granovsky and K. K. Bharathi and S. Quezado and S. K. Malik, "Competing Magnetic Interactions in the Intermetallic Compounds Pr 5Ge3 and Nd5Ge3," Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 109, no. 7, article no. 07A716, American Institute of Physics, Apr 2011.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3556920

Department(s)

Physics

Publication Status

Available Access

Comments

Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, Grant None

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0021-8979

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2024 American Institute of Physics, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2011