Multi-Step Magnetic Phase Transition in CeRh3Si2 Studied by Specific Heat Measurements |
| A.P. Pikul and D. Kaczorowski
Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, P Nr 1410, 50-950 Wrocław 2, Poland |
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| High-quality single crystal of a novel cerium silicide CeRh3Si2, crystallizing with the orthorhombic ErRh3Si2-type structure, was grown by the Czochralski pulling method and studied by means of specific heat measurements. The antiferromagnetic ordering of the compound manifests itself as a pronounced lambda-shaped anomaly at TN = 4.72(3) K, and is followed by a spike-shaped anomaly due to spin reorientation at Tt = 4.48(2) K, in good agreement with the previously reported magnetic susceptibility data. Both transitions are very sensitive to applied magnetic field - they split into four separate anomalies, which independently shift to lower temperatures with rising field. Several scenarios are proposed as possible explanations of the multi-step character of the magnetic ordering in CeRh3Si2. |
| DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.115.235 PACS numbers: 75.30.Mb, 75.50.Ee, 75.30.Kz, 65.40.Ba |