Anisotropic and mutable magnetization in Kondo lattice CeSb ₂

Abstract

We have systematically studied the behaviors of the resistivity and magnetization of CeSb 2 single crystals as a function of temperature and external field. Four anomalies in the resistivity/magnetization-versus-temperature curves are observed at low magnetic field. They are located at 15.5 K, 11.5 K, 9.5 K, and 6.5 K, corresponding to the paramagnetic-magnetically ordered state (MO), MO-antiferromagnetic (AFM), AFM-AFM, and AFM-ferromagnetic (FM) transitions, respectively. The anomaly at 9.5 K is only visible with H [010] by magnetic susceptibility measurements, indicating that the AFM-AFM transition only happens along [010] direction in ab-plane. The four magnetic transitions are strongly suppressed by high external field. Finally, the field-temperature phase diagrams of CeSb 2 with different orientations of the applied field in ab-plane are constructed and indicate the highly anisotropic nature of the magnetization of CeSb 2 .

Phase diagram of CeSb2 from magnetostriction and magnetization measurements: Evidence for ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic states

“…1(a)] [11]. Attempts have been made to characterize the low-temperature magnetic phases by multiple groups [11,12,14] each resulting in slightly different magnetic phase diagrams. As the temperature is lowered in zero field, CeSb 2 undergoes a first magnetic transition at 15.5 K to magnetic state I.…”

“…Further magnetic transitions to phases IV and III are observed at ∼11.5 K and 9.5 K [11][12][13][14]. The nature of the ground state at zero field, phase III, is controversial: Magnetization measurements show a large magnetic response [11,12] indicating a ferromagnetic ground state however neutron scattering shows the distinct onset of a magnetic ordering vector ( 1 6 , 1, 0) at 9.8 K [14]. This ordering vector persists to lower temperatures, pointing towards an antiferromagnetically ordered phase.…”

“…1(a). The first magnetic phase transition from the paramagnetic (PM) phase occurs at 15.5 K, phase I, and can be seen in resistivity [11,12], magnetization [11,12], and specific heat measurements [13]. Further magnetic transitions to phases IV and III are observed at ∼11.5 K and 9.5 K [11][12][13][14].…”

“…Here, we study CeSb 2 , a rare-earth metamagnetic material, which undergoes multiple phase transitions as a function of field and temperature [11]. CeSb 2 shows signatures of Kondolattice-like behavior in resistivity measurements below room temperature [11,12] and evolves through a number of magnetic phase transitions as the temperature is lowered. A sketch of the phase diagram is shown in Fig.…”

“…The first magnetic phase transition from the paramagnetic (PM) phase occurs at 15.5 K, phase I, and can be seen in resistivity [11,12], magnetization [11,12], and specific heat measurements [13]. Further magnetic transitions to phases IV and III are observed at ∼11.5 K and 9.5 K [11][12][13][14]. The nature of the ground state at zero field, phase III, is controversial: Magnetization measurements show a large magnetic response [11,12] indicating a ferromagnetic ground state however neutron scattering shows the distinct onset of a magnetic ordering vector ( 1 6 , 1, 0) at 9.8 K [14].…”