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Comparative study of thermal and magnetic properties of CeT{sub y}X{sub 4{minus}y} ferromagnets

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Centro Atomico Bariloche (CNEA), 8400 S. C. de Bariloche (Argentina)
  2. Institut de Physique et Chimie des Materiaux de Strasbourg, Groupe dEtude des Materiaux Metalliques, Universite Louis Pascal, 23 rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg (France)
Low-temperature thermal (specific heat, C{sub P}) and magnetic [ac susceptibility, {chi}{sub ac}, and isothermal magnetization M(B)] measurements on CeT{sub y}X{sub 4{minus}y} ferromagnets (with T=Ni, Cu, Pd, Ag, Au, and X=Ga, Al, with 0.3{lt}y{lt}0.7) are reported. With the exception of T=Ni, all compounds with X=Ga show a typical second-order ferromagnetic transition. In the case of T=Ni, magnetic correlations set in at T{approx}3T{sub C} (T{sub C} being the Curie temperature) and the C{sub P}(T) and {chi}{sub ac}(T) maxima (at 3.3 and 4.2 K, respectively) do not coincide, while the M(B) curves reveal an antiferromagnetic character at lower temperatures. In these systems, the magnetic entropy of the ordered phase is larger than 85{percent} of Rln2, in coincidence with the low values of the Sommerfeld coefficient {gamma}{le}10 mJ/molK{sup 2}. For T=Ag and X=Al, a strong diamagnetic signal was observed at T{sub s}=0.63 K in {chi}{sub ac}(T), with the characteristics of a superconducting component. The thermodynamical properties of these compounds confirm the lack of hybridization when the Ce atom is in a ferromagnetic ground state. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
OSTI ID:
538573
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 56; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English