paper

Magnetic properties of PrPd $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ and PrPt $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$

arXiv:0908.4011

Abstract

We have investigated the two rare-earth intermetallic compounds PrPd $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ and PrPt $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ by means of magnetization, electrical resistivity and heat capacity measurements. While PrPd $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ exhibits an antiferromagnetic ordering at 3 K, no magnetic ordering is observed in PrPt $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ down to 2 K. The different magnetic behaviors of these two compounnds are due to different crystalline electric field (CEF) level schemes. The specific heat data suggest a quasi-quartet ground state in PrPd $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ in contrast to a nonmagnetic singlet ground state in PrPt $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ . This difference is attributed to the loss of a mirror plane upon changing the crystal structure from the ThCr $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ type (PrPd $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ ) to the CaBe $_{2}$ Ge $_{2}$ type (PrPt $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ ). Further on, a large magnetoresistance is also observed in the magnetically ordered state of PrPd $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ .

10 pages, 6 figures

Magnetic properties of PrPd2​Si2​ and PrPt2​Si2​

Abstract

Magnetic properties of PrPd $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$ and PrPt $_{2}$ Si $_{2}$