Coupling between magnetic and thermodynamic properties in $R$Rh${}_2$Si${}_2$ ($R$ = Dy, Ho)

Abstract

Single crystals of DyRh${}_2$Si${}_2$ and HoRh${}_2$Si${}_2$ were investigated by thermal expansion and magnetostriction. The different types of magnetic order can clearly be seen in these measurements, particularly the canting of the moments away from the crystallographic $c$ direction below about 12~K and the spin-flip for magnetic field applied along the $c$ direction. For HoRh${}_2$Si${}_2$, an additional transition just below $T_{\mathrm{N}}$ is analyzed by means of the Grüneisen ratio and is likely caused by a change of the magnetic structure. Our results nicely corroborate findings from other magnetic and thermodynamic measurements on these materials and provide further evidence suggesting the formation of magnetic domains.

9 pages, 8 figures