paper

Magnetic Ordering and Crystal Field Effects in Quasi Caged Structure Compound PrFeAl

arXiv:1512.07488 · doi:10.1016/j.jpcs.2015.11.023

Abstract

The compound PrFeAl 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 -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 PrFeAl are investigated through the analysis of magnetization and specific heat data. A magnetic phase transition in the Pr lattice is identified at 4~K in dc magnetization and ac susceptibility data. At 2~K, the magnetization isotherm presents a ferromagnetic saturation, however, failing to reach full spin-only ferromagnetic moment of Pr. Metamagnetic step-like low-field features are present in the magnetization curve at 2~K which is shown to shift upon field-cooling the material. Arrott plots centered around display "S"-like features suggestive of an inhomogeneous magnetic state. The magnetic entropy, , estimated from specific heat outputs a value of ln(2) at suggesting a doublet state for Pr. The magnetic specific heat is modeled by using a 9-level Schottky equation pertinent to the Pr ion with = 4. Given the crystalline electric field situation of Pr, the inference of a doublet state from specific heat and consequent long-range magnetic order is an unexpected result.

7 Pages and 8 Figures

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