Abstract
Recent work analyzing the impact of nonsymmorphic symmetries on electronic states has given rise to the discovery of multiple types of topological matter. Here we report the single-crystal synthesis and magnetic properties of EuGa2Sb2, a Eu-based antiferromagnet structurally consisting of pseudo-1D chains of Eu ions related by a nonsymmorphic glide plane. We find the onset of antiferromagnetic order at TN=8K. Above TN the magnetic susceptibility is isotropic. Curie-Weiss analysis suggests competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions, with peff=8.1μB as expected for 4f7 J=S=7/2 Eu2+ ions. Below TN and at low applied magnetic fields, an anisotropy develops linearly, reaching χ/χ=6 at T=2K. There is concomitant metamagnetic behavior along χ, with a magnetic field of μ0H≈0.5 T sufficient to suppress the anisotropy. Independent of crystal orientation, there is a continuous evolution to a field-polarized paramagnetic state with M=7μB/Eu2+ at μ0H=2 T as T→0K. Specific-heat measurements show a recovered magnetic entropy of ΔSmag≈16.4Jmol-1K-1 from T∼0 K to T=TN, close to the expected value of Rln(8) for an S=7/2 ion, indicating negligible low-dimensional spin fluctuations above TN. We find no evidence of unusual behaviors arising either from the dimensionality or the presence of the nonsymmorphic symmetries.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 114401 |
Journal | Physical Review Materials |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 American Physical Society.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)