Crystal structure and physical properties of EuPtIn${}_4$ intermetallic antiferromagnet

Abstract

We report the synthesis of EuPtIn${}_4$ single crystalline platelets by the In-flux technique. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic Cmcm structure with lattice parameters $a=4.542(1)$ Å, $b=16.955(2)$ Å and $c=7.389(1)$ Å. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, electrical resistivity, and electron spin resonance (ESR) reveal that EuPtIn${}_4$ is a metallic Curie-Weiss paramagnet at high temperatures and presents antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering below $T_N=13.3$ K. In addition, we observe a successive anomaly at $T^{\ast }=12.6$ K and a spin-flop transition at $H_c\sim 2.5$ T applied along the $ac$-plane. In the paramagnetic state, a single Eu${}^{2+}$ Dysonian ESR line with a Korringa relaxation rate of $b=4.1(2)$ Oe/K is observed. Interestingly, even at high temperatures, both ESR linewidth and electrical resistivity reveal a similar anisotropy. We discuss a possible common microscopic origin for the observed anisotropy in these physical quantities likely associated with an anisotropic magnetic interaction between Eu${}^{2+}$ 4$f$ electrons mediated by conduction electrons.

5 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (1)

• Fermi-liquid instabilities at magnetic quantum phase transitions

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Microscopic probe of magnetic polarons in antiferromagnetic Eu${}_5$In${}_2$Sb${}_6$