Single crystals of RPd${_2}$P${_2}$ (R=Y, La-Nd, Sm-Ho, Yb) were grown out of a high temperature solution rich in Pd and P and characterized by room-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, anisotropic temperature- and field-dependent magnetization and temperature-dependent in-plane resistivity measurements. In this series, YPd${_2}$P${_2}$ and LaPd${_2}$P${_2}$ and YbPd${_2}$P${_2}$ (with Yb$^{+2}$) are non local-moment bearing, whereas CePd${_2}$P${_2}$ and PrPd${_2}$P${_2}$ order at low temperature with a ferromagnetic component along the crystallographic c-axis. The rest of the series manifest low temperature antiferromagnetic ordering. EuPd${_2}$P${_2}$ has Eu$^{+2}$ ions and both EuPd${_2}$P${_2}$ and GdPd${_2}$P${_2}$ have isotropic paramagnetic susceptibilities consistent with $L = 0$ and $J=S=\frac{7}{2}$ and exhibit multiple magnetic transitions. For R=Eu-Dy, there are multiple, $T>1.8$ K transitions in zero applied magnetic field and for R=Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, and Dy there are clear metamagnetic transitions at T=2.0 K for $H<55$ kOe. Strong anisotropies arising mostly from crystal electric field (CEF) effects were observed for most magnetic rare earths with $L\neq 0$. The experimentally estimated CEF parameters B$^2_0$ were calculated from the anisotropic paramagnetic $θ_{ab}$ and $ θ_{c}$ values and compared to theoretical trends across the rare earth series. The ordering temperatures as well as the polycrystalline averaged paramagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature, $θ_{ave}$, were extracted from magnetization and resistivity measurements, and compared to the de-Gennes factor.
We have synthesized two new interstitial compounds (RPd3)8Mn (R = La and Ce). The Mn ions present in "dilute" concentration of just 3 molar percent form a sublattice with an unusually large Mn-Mn near neighbor distance of ~ 85 nm. While the existence of (RPd3)8M (where M is a p-block element) is already documented in the literature, the present work reports for the first time the formation of this phase with M being a 3d element. In (LaPd3)8Mn, the Mn sub-lattice orders antiferromagnetically as inferred from the peaks in low-field magnetization at 48 K and 23 K. The latter peak progressively s…
We report temperature dependent magnetization and neutron diffraction measurements on the corundum related magnetoelectric antiferromagnet Mn$_{4}$Ta$_{2}$O$_{9}$. Measurements performed on a single crystalline specimen reveal that the magnetization is anisotropic, and a weak ferromagnetic component emerges well within the antiferromagnetically ordered state. Powder neutron diffraction measurements indicate that the magnetic structure comprises of antiferromagnetically coupled ferromagnetic chains of Mn$^{2+}$ spins aligned along the trigonal $c$ axis, in contrast to that reported in other iso…
The electrical and magnetic response to a bias current has been investigated in a singlecrystalline ferromagnetic manganese oxide $\Pr_{0.8}$Ca$_{0.2}$MnO$_3$ . A significant decrease of the magnetization is observed at the same threshold current where a non-linearity of V-I characteristics appears. Such a behavior cannot be understood in the framework of the filamentary picture usually invoked for the non linearity of the other manganese oxides. Instead, an analogy with spintronic features might be useful and experimental signatures seem to be in agreement with excitations of spin waves by an…
We present a detailed study of R3Ni2-xSn7 (R = La, Ce, Pr and Nd) single crystals by measurements of crystal structure, stoichiometry, temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, and specific heat. This series forms with partial Ni occupancy with x varying from ~ 0.1 for R = La to ~0.7 for R = Nd. The electrical resistivity of this series follows metallic behavior at high temperatures. Determination of clear anisotropies as well as antiferromagnetic ordering temperatures for R3Ni2-xSn7 (R = Ce, Pr and Nd) have been made. For Pr3Ni1.5…
We have grown the single crystals of LaAu$_{2}$In$_{4}$ and CeAu$_{2}$In$_{4}$ by high temperature solution method and report on the anisotropic magnetic behavior of CeAu$_{2}$In$_{4}$ . The compounds crystallize in an orthorhombic structure with space group \textit {Pnma}. LaAu$_{2}$In$_{4}$ shows a Pauli-paramagnetic behavior. CeAu$_{2}$In$_{4}$ do not order down to 1.8 K. The easy axis of magnetization for CeAu$_{2}$In$_{4}$ is along [010] direction. The magnetization data is analyzed on the basis of crystalline electric field (CEF) model.
We present a detailed study of RNi1-xBi2+-y (R = La-Nd, Sm, Gd-Dy) single crystals by measurements of stoichiometry and temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and electrical resistivity. This series forms with partial Ni occupancy as well as a variable Bi occupancy. For R = Ce-Nd, Sm, Gd-Dy, the RNi1-xBi2+-y compounds show local-moment like behavior and order antiferromagnetically at low temperatures. Determination of anisotropies as well as antiferromagnetic ordering temperatures for RNi1-xBi2+-y (R = Ce-Nd, Sm, Gd-Dy) have been made. Although crystalline samples from t…
The results of the magnetization studies on Pr_{5}Ge_{3}and Tb_{5}Ge_{3} single crystals are reported. Single Crystals of Pr_{5}Ge_{3} and Tb_{5}Ge_{3} compounds were successfully grown by Czochralski method. These compounds crystallize in a Mn_{5}Si_{3} type hexagonal structure with space group P6_{3}/mcm. Ferromagnetic correlations set in at around 36 K in Pr_{5}Ge_{3} in the ab plane followed by an antiferromagnetic transition at 13 K. Along the c-axis the magnetization shows a ferromagnetic transition around 13 K with an overall ferrimagnetic behavior. At 2K, the magnetic isotherm of the c…
Single crystal of CeMg$_{12}$ is obtained by Bridgman method. CeMg$_{12}$ crystallizes in the tetragonal structure with space group $I4/mmm$ (#139). The Laue pattern confirms the tetragonal crystal structure of CeMg$_{12}$. We have studied the magnetic properties by measuring magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, heat capacity and electrical transport. Specific heat measurement shows that the compound orders at 1.2 K. We have measured the magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 1.8 to 300 K, and the susceptibility data show that [100] crystallographic direction is the easy axis of m…
We report a detailed investigation of magnetic relaxation and memory effects in La$_{0.9}$Sr$_{0.1}$CoO$_3$ single crystal from dc magnetization measurements. The analysis of magnetic relaxation at different temperatures and magnetic fields below the freezing temperature ($T_{f}$) manifests the characteristics of spin glass phase. Below $T_{f}$, striking memory effects have been clearly observed in different experimental protocols. The memory effect in the zero-field-cooled magnetization further establishes that the glassy magnetic state arises from the co-operative spin-spin interaction but n…
Single crystals of monoclinic La$_{5}$Co$_{2}$Ge$_{3}$ were grown using a self-flux method and were characterized by room-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, anisotropic temperature and field dependent magnetization, temperature dependent resistivity, specific heat, and muon spin rotation. La$_{5}$Co$_{2}$Ge$_{3}$ has a Curie temperature ($T_\mathrm{C}$) of 3.8~K and clear signatures of ferromagnetism in magnetization and $μSR$ data, as well as a clear loss of spin disorder scattering in resistivity data and a sharp specific heat anomaly. The magnetism associated with La$_{5}$Co$_{2}$Ge$_{3}…
Magnetization data of single crystalline La4Sr10Cu24O41 are presented. In this compound, doped spin chains and undoped spin ladders are realized. The magnetization, at low temperatures, is governed by the chain subsystem with a finite interchain coupling which leads to short range antiferromagnetic spin correlations. At higher temperatures, the response of the chains can be estimated in terms of a Curie-Weiss law. For the ladders, we apply the low-temperature approximation for a S=1/2 2-leg spin ladder by Troyer et al.
Structural, magnetization, phonon behavior, and dielectric response of nano-crystalline Gd$_2$CoMnO$_6$ have been presented in this paper. The study shows that the material crystallizes in $\textit{P2$_1$/n}$ phase group of the monoclinic crystal structure. XPS measurement shows Co$^{2+}$ and Mn$^{4+}$ oxidation states are present in the sample. Magnetization study reveals that the sample undergoes a ferromagnetic ordering of Co$^{2+}$ and Mn$^{4+}$ magnetic ions around $T_c$ $\sim$132 K. However we have seen that with the application of external magnetic field the phase transition is largely …
We report low temperature (1.8-15 K) ac magnetic susceptibility and isothermal remanent magnetization behavior for the single crystalline form of Dy2PdSi3, crystallizing in a AlB2-derived hexagonal structure, for two orientations. The results, while confirming the existence of two magnetic transitions, one at 8 K and the other at 2.5 K, as inferred from previous dc magnetization studies, suggest that the 2.5K-transition is spin-glass-like, with an interesting sensitivity to the application of an external dc magnetic field. Thus, this compound appears to undergo a transition from antiferromagne…
Detailed magnetization, specific heat, and $^7$Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on single crystals of the hyperhoneycomb Kitaev magnet $β$-Li$_2$IrO$_3$ are reported. At high temperatures, {\cred anisotropy of the magnetization is reflected by the different Curie-Weiss temperatures for different field directions}, in agreement with the combination of a ferromagnetic Kitaev interaction ($K$) and a negative off-diagonal anisotropy ($Γ$) as two leading terms in the spin Hamiltonian. At low temperatures, magnetic fields applied along $a$ or $c$ have only a weak effect on the system…
The magnetic properties of perovskite CaVO3 single crystals have been studied by means of magnetoresistance r(T, H) and magnetization M(H) measurements in fields to 18T. At 2 K, the magnetoresistance is positive and a maximum value of Dr(18T)/r(0) = 16.5% is found for H//a. The magnetization exhibits a smooth increase at 2 K, reaching values of M(18T) = 0.03, 0.05, 0.17 mB/f.u. for H//a, H//b, and H//c, respectively. This anisotropy found in M(H) is consistent with that observed for Dr(H//a) > Dr(H//b) > Dr(H//c). These results can be interpreted in terms of the field-dependent scattering mech…
We present superconducting properties of single crystalline Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ by measuring magnetization, resistivity, upper critical field, Hall coefficient, and magneto-optical images. The magnetization measurements reveal fish-tail hysteresis loop at high temperatures and relatively high critical current density above $J_{c}=10^{5}$ A/cm$^{2}$ at low temperatures. Upper critical field determined by resistive transition is anisotropic with anisotropic parameter $\sim$ 3.5. Hall effect measurements indicate that Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ is a multiband system…
We have grown single crystals of YbFe6Ge6 and LuFe6Ge6 and characterized their anisotropic behaviour through low field magnetic susceptibility, field-dependent magnetization, resistivity and heat capacity measurements. The Yb+3 valency is confirmed by LIII XANES measurements. YbFe6Ge6 crystals exhibit a field-dependent, sudden reorientation of the Fe spins at about 63 K, a unique effect in the RFe6Ge6 family (R = rare earths) where the Fe ions order anti-ferromagnetically with Neel temperatures above 450 K and the R ions' magnetism appears to behave independently. The possible origins of this …
Single-crystalline UAu$_2$Si$_2$ has been grown by a floating-zone melting method, and its magnetic, thermal and transport properties have been investigated through measurements of magnetization, specific heat and electrical resistivity to reveal its peculiar magnetism. It is shown that UAu$_2$Si$_2$ undergoes a second-order phase transition at \tm = 19 K, which had been believed to be ferromagnetic ordering in the literature, from a paramagnetic phase to an uncompensated antiferromagnetic phase with spontaneous magnetization along the tetragonal $c$-axis (the easy magnetization direction). Th…
Magnetic structure of tetragonal UAu$_2$Si$_2$ was investigated by single-crystal neutron diffraction experiments. Below $T_{\rm N}$ = 20 K it orders antiferromagnetically with a propagation vector of $k = (2/3, 0, 0)$ and magnetic moments of uranium ions pointing along the tetragonal $c$-axis. Weak signs of the presence of a ferromagnetic component of magnetic moment were traced out.Taking into account a group theory calculation and experimental results of magnetization and $^{29}$Si-NMR, the magnetic structure is determined to be a squared-up antiferromagnetic structure, with a stacking sequ…
Systematic studies of magnetic properties of LaSr2Mn2O7 as a function of crystalline grain size provide information on how the crystalline grain size affects the magnetic and charge ordering in this compound. The half-doped bi-layered manganite LaSr2Mn2O7 (x=0.5) in its bulk form has CE-type antiferromagnetic (CE-AFM) charge ordering phase transition. In this work, we have prepared LaSr2Mn2O7 ceramic samples using Pechini sol-gel method to produce different grain sizes and the effect of crystalline grain sizes between 150 200 to 1000 nm on magnetic properties results obtained by the SQUID magn…
We examine ground state properties of the spin-1/2 easy-axis Heisenberg model on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice with ferromagnetic transverse spin exchange using quantum Monte Carlo and degenerate perturbation theory. For vanishing transverse exchange, the model reduces to an antiferromagnetic Ising model that besides Neel order harbors regions of extensive ground state degeneracy. In the quantum regime, we find a dimerized phase of triplet states, separated from the Neel ordered phase by a superfluid. The quantum phase transitions between these phases are characterized. The magnetization proc…
We present here a neutron diffraction study, both in zero field and as a function of magnetic field, of the magnetic structure of the tetragonal intermetallic \eun\ on a single crystalline sample. This material is known to undergo a cascade of transitions, first at 13.2\,K towards an incommensurate modulated magnetic structure, then at 10.5\,K to an equal moment, yet undetermined, antiferromagnetic structure. We show here that the low temperature phase presents a spiral moment arrangement with wave-vector {\bf k} = ($\frac{1}{4},δ,0)$. For a magnetic field applied along the tetragonal {\bf c}-…
We report the synthesis and characterization of a new quantum magnet [2-[Bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)aminomethyl]pyridine]Ni(II)-trimer (BHAP-Ni3) in single-crystalline form. Our combined experimental and theoretical investigations reveal an exotic spin state that stabilizes a robust 2/3 magnetization plateau between 7 and 20 T in an external magnetic field. AC-susceptibility measurements show the absence of any magnetic order/glassy state down to 60 mK. The magnetic ground state is disordered and specific-heat measurements reveal the gapped nature of the spin excitations. Most interestingly, our theo…
The interplay between magnetism and topological band structure offers extraordinary opportunities to realize rich exotic magnetic topological phases such as axion insulators, Weyl semimetals, and quantum anomalous Hall insulators, which therefore has attracted fast growing research interest. The rare-earth hexaborides EuB6 represents an interesting magnetic topological phase with tunable magnetizations along different crystallographic directions, while the correlation with the topological properties remains scarcely explored. In this work, combining magnetotransport measurements and first prin…
We have measured the magnetization of rare-earth chiral magnets Yb(Ni$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$)$_{3}$Al$_{9}$ for $x$=0 and 0.06 up to 14.5 T. Magnetization for the field direction $H \parallel c$, which is the hard axis at low temperatures and low fields, overtakes the easy axis magnetization for $H \perp c$ above $\sim$4 T. We analyzed this overtaking of the magnetization curves by considering a crystalline electric field model. It is shown that the $B_{66}$ term, which connects the $|\pm5/2 \rangle$ and the $|\mp7/2\rangle$ states through the off-diagonal matrix element, is responsible for the charact…
We have performed X-ray powder diffraction, magnetization, electrical resistivity, heat capacity and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to investigate the physical properties of the intermetallic series of compounds CeCuBi$_{2-x}$Sb$_{x}$. These compounds crystallize in a tetragonal structure with space group $P4/nmm$ and present antiferromagnetic transition temperatures ranging from 3.6 K to 16 K. Remarkably, the magnetization easy axis changes along the series, which is closely related to the variations of the tetragonal crystalline electric field (CEF) parameters. This evolution was analyze…
The compound PrFe$_2$Al$_8$ possesses a three-dimensional network structure resulting from the packing of Al polyhedra centered at the transition metal element Fe and the rare earth Pr. Along the $c$-axis, Fe and Pr form {\em chains} which are separated from each other by the Al-network. In this paper, the magnetism and crystalline electric field effects in PrFe$_2$Al$_8$ are investigated through the analysis of magnetization and specific heat data. A magnetic phase transition in the Pr lattice is identified at $T^{Pr}_{N}\approx$ 4~K in dc magnetization and ac susceptibility data. At 2~K, the…
CaCo$_{2}$As$_{2}$, a ThCr$_{2}$Si$_{2}$-structure compound, undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at \emph{T$_{N}$}=76K with the magnetic moments being aligned parallel to the \emph{c} axis. Electronic transport measurement reveals that the coupling between conducting carriers and magnetic order in CaCo$_{2}$As$_{2}$ is much weaker comparing to the parent compounds of iron pnictide. Applying magnetic field along \emph{c} axis induces two successive spin-flop transitions in its magnetic state. The magnetization saturation behaviors with \emph{\textbf{H}$\parallel$c} and \emph{\textbf{H}$\p…
The magnetization measurements of CexLa1-xRu2Al10 (x = 1, 0.75) under the high magnetic field were performed in order to obtain the information for the long-range order (LRO) in CeRu2Al10. We successfully obtained the magnetic phase diagram of these two compounds for the applied magnetic field along the a-axis which is the magnetization easy axis, and found that the LRO for x = 1 disappears at ~50 T which is the critical field to the paramagnetic phase. For x = 0.75, the critical magnetic field decreases to ~37 T by La substitution. The magnetic phase diagram and magnetization curve are qualit…
We have studied a nearly stoichiometric insulating Y$_{0.97(2)}$Cr$_{0.98(2)}$O$_{3.00(2)}$ single crystal by performing measurements of magnetization, heat capacity, and neutron diffraction. Albeit that the YCrO$_3$ compound behaviors like a soft ferromagnet with a coersive force of $\sim$ 0.05 T, there exist strong antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions between Cr$^{3+}$ spins due to a strongly negative paramagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature, i.e., -433.2(6) K. The coexistence of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism may indicate a canted AFM structure. The AFM phase transition occurs at $T_\tex…
Single-crystals of the new ferromagnetic superconductor UCoGe have been grown. The quality of as-grown samples can be significantly improved by a heat-treatment procedure, which increases the residual resistance ratio (RRR) from ~5 to ~30. Magnetization and resistivity measurements show the annealed samples have a sharp ferromagnetic transition with a Curie temperature T_C is 2.8 K. The ordered moment of 0.06 mu_B is directed along the orthorhombic c-axis. Superconductivity is found below a resistive transition temperature T_s = 0.65 K.
We report a steplike lattice transformation of single crystalline (La$_{0.4}$Pr$_{0.6}$)$_{1.2}$Sr$_{1.8}$Mn$_{2}$O$_{7}$bilayered manganite accompanied by both magnetization and magnetoresistive jumps, and examine the ultrasharp nature of the field-induced first-order transition from a paramagnetic insulator to a ferromagnetic metal phase accompanied by a huge decrease in resistance. Our findings support that the abrupt magnetostriction is closely related to an orbital frustration existing in the inhomogeneous paramagnetic insulating phase rather than a martensitic scenario between competing …
We report the anisotropic magnetic properties of the ternary compound ErAl$_2$Ge$_2$. Single crystals of this compound were grown by high temperature solution growth technique,using Al:Ge eutectic composition as flux. From the powder x-ray diffraction we confirmed that ErAl$_2$Ge$_2$ crystallizes in the trigonal CaAl$_2$Si$_2$-type crystal structure. The anisotropic magnetic properties of a single crystal were investigated by measuring the magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, heat capacity and electrical resistivity. A bulk magnetic ordering occurs around 4 K inferred from the magnetic susc…
The magnetization and specific heat measurements have been performed on single-crystalline Gd_3_Ru_4_Al_12_ with a distorted Kagome lattice structure. This spin system is regarded as an antiferromagnetic triangular lattice of XY like Heisenberg model at low temperatures. The magnetic phase diagrams indicate the existence of frustration and Z_2_ degeneracy. The magnetization and specific heat imply the successive phase transitions with partial disorder and a T-shaped spin structure in the ground state.
The physical properties of single-crystalline SmBe$_{13}$ with a NaZn$_{13}$-type cubic structure have been studied by electrical resistivity ($ρ$), specific heat ($C$), and magnetization ($M$) measurements in magnetic fields of up to 9 T. The temperature ($T$) dependence of $ρ$ shows normal metallic behavior without showing the Kondo -ln$T$ behavior, suggesting the weak hybridization effect in this system. Analyses of the temperature dependence of $C$ suggest that the Sm ions of this compound are trivalent and that the crystalline-electric-field (CEF) ground state is a $Γ_8$ quartet with a fi…
3$d$ based double perovskite materials have received much attention in recent years due to their exotic magnetic structure and magneto-electric coupling. In this work we have prepared and studied the nano-crystalline sample of Ho$_2$CoMnO$_6$. Structural, magnetic, Raman and dielectric properties have been studied in detail. The structural analysis shows that the sample crystallize in monoclanic crystal structure with $\textit{P2$_1$/n}$ phase group. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been employed to confirms the charge state of cations presents in the material. Magnetic study shows th…
The crystalline electric field (CEF) of Ce3+ in trigonal symmetry has recently become of some relevance, for instance, in the search of frustrated magnetic systems. Fortunately, it is one of the CEF case in which a manageable analytic solution can be obtained. Here, we present this solution for the general case, and use this result to determine the CEF scheme of the new compound CeIr3Ge7 with the help of T-dependent susceptibility and isothermal magnetization measurements. The resulting CEF parameters B20 = 34.4 K, B40 = 0.82 K and B43 = 67.3 K correspond to an exceptional large CEF splittings…
Single crystals of R$_2$CoGa$_8$ series of compounds were grown, for the first time, by high temperature solution growth (flux) method. These compounds crystallize in a tetragonal crystal structure with the space group $P4/mmm$. It has been found that R$_2$CoGa$_8$ phase forms only with the heavier rare earths, starting from Gd with a relatively large $c/a$ ratio of $\approx$ 2.6. The resultant anisotropic magnetic properties of the compounds were investigated along the two principal crystallographic directions of the crystal viz., along [100] and [001]. The nonmagnetic compounds Y$_2$CoGa$_8$…
Nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetization measurements were used to probe the magnetic features of single-crystalline Bi(Cu(1-x)Znx)2PO6 with 0<x<0.05 at temperatures between 2.6 K and 300 K. The simple lineshape of the 31P NMR signals of the pristine compound changes considerably for x>0 and we present clear evidence for a temperature dependent variation of the local magnetization close to the Zn sites. The generic nature of this observation is indicated by results of model calculations on appropriate spin systems of limited size employing QMC methods.
We report on the superconducting properties of In doped SnTe which has recently been explored as a topological crystalline superconductor. Single crystals of Sn0.5In0.5Te have been synthesized by modified Bridgman method. Resistivity measurement performed in the range 1.6K to 300K shows metallic normal state with onset of superconducting transition at Tc = 4.5K. Bulk superconductivity has also been confirmed by DC magnetization, AC susceptibility and rf penetration depth measurements. The zero temperature upper critical field, lower critical field, coherence length, penetration depth are estim…
We synthesized single-crystalline samples of monoclinic BaIrO3 using a molten flux method, and measured their magnetization, resistivity, Seebeck coefficient and nonlinear voltage-current characteristics. The magnetization rapidly increases below a ferromagnetic transition temperature TC of 180 K, where the resistivity concomitantly shows a hump-type anomaly, followed by a sharp increase below 30 K. The Seebeck coefficient suddenly increases below TC, and shows linear temperature dependence below 50 K. A most striking feature of this compound is that the anomalously giant nonlinear conduction …
The anisotropic magnetic properties of the antiferromagnetic compound CePd$_2$Ge$_2$, crystallizing in the tetragonal crystal structure have been investigated in detail on a single crystal grown by Czochralski method. From the electrical transport, magnetization and heat capacity data, the Néel temperature is confirmed to be 5.1 K. Anisotropic behaviour of magnetization and resistivity is observed along the two principal crystallographic directions viz., [100] and [001]. The isothermal magnetization measured in the magnetically ordered state at 2 K exhibits a spin re-orientation at 13.5 T for …
We report detailed investigations of the properties of a superconductor obtained by substituting In at the Sn site in the topological crystalline insulator (TCI), SnTe. Transport, magnetization and heat capacity measurements have been performed on crystals of Sn0.6In0.4Te, which is shown to be a bulk superconductor with Tc(onset) at ~4.70(5) K and Tc(zero) at ~3.50(5) K. The upper and lower critical fields are estimated to be μ0Hc2(0) = 1.42(3) T and μ0Hc1(0) = 0.90(3) mT respectively, while κ = 56.4(8) indicates this material is a strongly type II superconductor.
In order to investigate the anisotropic magnetic properties of CeAg$_2$Ge$_2$, we have successfully grown the single crystals, for the first time, by high temperature solution growth (flux) method. We have performed a detailed study of the grown single crystals by measuring their electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, specific heat and magnetoresistance. A clear anisotropy and an antiferromagnetic transition at $T_{\rm N}$ = 4.6 K have been observed in the magnetic properties. The magnetic entropy reaches $R$ ln 4 at 20 K indicating that the ground state and the first …
We report on the single crystal growth and anisotropic physical properties of CeAgAs$_2$. The compound crystallizes as on ordered variant of the HfCuSi$_2$-type crystal structure and adopts the orthorhombic space group $Pmca$~(\#57) with two symmetry inequivalent cerium atomic positions in the unit cell. The orthorhombic crystal structure of our single crystal was confirmed from the powder x-ray diffraction and from electron diffraction patterns obtained from the transmission electron microscope. The anisotropic physical properties have been investigated on a good quality single crystal by mea…
CeCd$_3$P$_3$ and CeCd$_3$As$_3$ compounds adopt the hexagonal ScAl$_3$C$_3$-type structure, where magnetic Ce ions on a triangular lattice order antiferromagnetically below $T_\text{N} \sim$0.42~K. Their crystalline electric field (CEF) level scheme has been determined by fitting magnetic susceptibility curves, magnetization isotherms, and Schottky anomalies in specific heat. The calculated results, incorporating the CEF excitation, Zeeman splitting, and molecular field, are in good agreement with the experimental data. The CEF model, with Ce$^{3+}$ ions in a trigonal symmetry, explains the s…
The magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat of the single crystalline sample SmRh$_2$Zn$_{20}$ were measured. The valence of Sm ions in SmRh$_2$Zn$_{20}$ was found to be trivalent. No evidence of valence fluctuations was detected. SmRh$_2$Zn$_{20}$ is an antiferromagnet with $T_{\rm N}=$ 2.46 K. The observed $C(T,H)$ curves showed that $T_{\rm N}$ splits into two in the external field $H$ along the [001] and [101]directions. On the other hand, $T_{\rm N}$ in $H$ along the [111] direction did not split, decreasing to 2.20 K at $H=7$ T. At 2 K, the magnetization $M_{111}$ in $H…
In this paper, we performed thermodynamic and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements to study low-energy magnetic excitations, which were significantly affected by crystalline electric field (CEF) excitations due to relatively small gaps between the CEF ground state and the excited states. Based on the CEF and mean-field (MF) theories, we analyzed systematically and consistently the ESR experiments and thermodynamic measurements including susceptibility, magnetization, and heat capacity. The CEF parameters were successfully extracted by fitting high-temperature (> 20 K) susceptibilities in…
Single-crystalline CeRh3Si2 was investigated by means of x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements carried out in wide temperature and magnetic field ranges. Moreover, the electronic structure of the compound was studied at room temperature by cerium core-level x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The physical properties were analyzed in terms of crystalline electric field and compared with results of ab-initio band structure calculations performed within the density functional theory approach. The compound was found to…
The ternary-arsenide compound BaCo2As2 was previously proposed to be in proximity to a quantum-critical point where long-range ferromagnetic (FM) order is suppressed by quantum fluctuations. Here we report the effect of Ir substitution for Co on the magnetic and thermal properties of Ba[Co(1-x)Ir(x)]2As2 (0 <= x <= 0.25) single crystals. These compositions all crystallize in an uncollapsed body-centered-tetragonal ThCr2Si2 structure with space group I4/mmm. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal clear signatures of FM ordering for x >= 0.11 with a nearly composition-independent Curie temp…
The magnetic behavior of single-crystal Ho$_2$PdSi$_3$, crystallizing in an AlB$_2$-derived hexagonal structure, is investigated by magnetic susceptibility ($χ$) and electrical resistivity ($ρ$) measurements along two directions. There is no dramatic anisotropy in the high temperature Curie-Weiss parameter or in the $ρ$ and isothermal magnetization data, though there is a noticeable anisotropy in the magnitude of $ρ$ between two perpendicular orientations. The degree of anisotropy is overall less prominent than in the Gd (which is an S-state ion!) and Tb analogues. A point of emphasis is that …
The filled skutterudite compound PrOs4Sb12, the first example of a Pr-based heavy fermion superconductor, displays superconductivity with $T_c\sim 1.85$ K and has an effective mass $m^* \sim$ {50 $m_e$}, where $m_e$ is the free electron mass. For magnetic fields above 4.5 T, sharp features in the normal state electrical resistivity, magnetization, specific heat, and thermal expansion data suggest the occurrence of a phase transition at high fields. This high field ordered phase in the normal state may originate from a combination of crystalline electric field enhanced Zeeman splitting and quad…
By measuring the THz electron spin resonance (ESR) transmission spectra and high-field magnetization on the spin-gapped system CuTe$_2$O$_5$, we identified the singlet-triplet excitations in the dimerized non-magnetic ground state. The determined spin-gap value of $hν_0=4.94$ meV at the $Γ$ point ($\mathbf{Q}\simeq\mathbf{0}$) is significantly smaller than the strongest antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the Cu ions predicted by theoretical investigations. We also observed the critical field $H_{c1}^{a^*}=37.6$ T for \textbf{H} $\bot$ \emph{bc}-plane and $H_{c1}^{bc}=40.6$ T for \t…
Millimeter sized ThCr$_2$Si$_2$-type CeNi$_2$As$_2$ single crystal was synthesized by NaAs flux method and its physical properties were investigated by magnetization, transport and specific heat measurements. In contrast to the previously reported CaBe$_2$Ge$_2$-type CeNi$_2$As$_2$, the ThCr$_2$Si$_2$-type CeNi$_2$As$_2$ is a highly anisotropic uniaxial antiferromagnet with the transition temperature $T_N$=4.8 K. A field induced spin flop transition was seen below $T_N$ when the applied $\textbf{B}$ is parallel to the $\textbf{c}$-axis, the magnetic easy axis, together with a huge frustration …
Single crystals of RCo$_{2}$Ge$_{2}$ (R = Y, La-Nd, Sm-Tm) were grown using a self-flux method and were characterized by room-temperature powder x-ray diffraction; anisotropic, temperature and field dependent magnetization; temperature and field dependent, in-plane resistivity; and specific heat measurements. In this series, the majority of the moment-bearing members order antiferromagnetically; YCo$_{2}$Ge$_{2}$ and LaCo$_{2}$Ge$_{2}$ are non-moment-bearing. Ce is trivalent in CeCo$_{2}$Ge$_{2}$ at high temperatures, and exhibits an enhanced electronic specific heat coefficient due to Kondo e…
We report superconducting properties of single crystalline Ca10(Pt4-δAs8)(Fe2-xPtxAs2)5 by X-ray diffraction, magnetization, resistivity, and magneto-optical imaging measurements. The magnetization measurements reveal fish-tail hysteresis loop and relatively high critical current density Jc ~ 0.8\times105 A/cm2 at low temperatures. The exponential temperature dependence of Jc, which arises from nonlinear effective flux-creep activation energy, has been observed. Upper critical field determined by resistive transition shows a relatively large anisotropy. The magneto-optical images reveal homoge…
Considering certain interesting features in the previously reported 166Er Moessbauer effect and neutron diffraction data on the polycrystalline form of ErPd2Si2 crystallizing in ThCr2Si2-type tetragonal structure, we have carried out magnetic measurements (1.8 to 300 K) on the single crystalline form of this compound. We observe significant anisotropy in the absolute values of magnetization (indicating that the easy axis is c-axis) as well as in the features due to magnetic ordering in the plot of magnetic susceptibility (chi) versus temperature (T) at low temperatures. The chi(T) data reveal …
We present magnetization and magnetostriction studies of the insulating perovskite LaCoO3 in magnetic fields approaching 100 T. In marked contrast with expectations from single-ion models, the data reveal two distinct first-order spin transitions and well-defined magnetization plateaux. The magnetization at the higher plateau is only about half the saturation value expected for spin-1 Co3+ ions. These findings strongly suggest collective behavior induced by strong interactions between different electronic -- and therefore spin -- configurations of Co3+ ions. We propose a model of these interac…
