Correlation between charge density waves and antiferromagnetism in Nd${}_{1-x}$Gd${}_x$NiC${}_2$ solid solution

Abstract

We report a study on the evolution of a charge density wave and antiferromagnetism in the series of the polycrystalline solid solution Nd${}_{1-x}$Gd${}_x$NiC${}_2$ (0 $\le$ x $\le$ 1) by means of magnetic and transport properties measurements. The experimental results reveal the violation of the de Gennes law and a strong correlation between the Peierls, Néel and Curie-Weiss temperatures, which strongly suggests a cooperative interaction between the charge density wave state and antiferromagnetism due to Fermi surface nesting enhancement of the RKKY interaction. We also find that, the obtained results for the Nd${}_{1-x}$Gd${}_x$NiC${}_2$ (0 $\le$ x $\le$ 1) series overlap with the $T_{CDW}$ trend line in the phase diagram for RNiC${}_2$ family.

Accepted to Physical Review B