Magnetism in Gallium doped CeFe_2: The martensitic scenario

TL;DR

This study investigates how gallium doping affects the magnetic phases of CeFe_2, revealing stabilization of antiferromagnetic states and martensitic behavior, with implications for understanding magnetic phase transitions.

Contribution

First demonstration that Ga substitution stabilizes the antiferromagnetic phase and induces martensitic behavior in CeFe_2 compounds.

Findings

Ga stabilizes antiferromagnetic phase in CeFe_2

Multiple magnetization steps observed in doped samples

Glassy magnetic behavior at low temperatures in higher Ga content

Abstract

Ce(Fe_{1-x}Ga_x)_2 compounds with x = 0, 0.01, 0.025 and 0.05 have been investigated to unravel the effect of Ga on the magnetic state of CeFe_2. For the first time, we find that the dynamic antiferromagnetic phase present in CeFe_2 gets stabilized with Ga substitution. The hysteresis loops show that while the compounds with x = 0 and 0.01 show normal behavior, the other two show multiple magnetization steps across the antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic transition region. The virgin curve is found to lie outside the envelope curve in these two compounds, similar to the observations made in Ru and Re substituted CeFe_2 compounds. Temperature, sweep rate and time dependences of the magnetization show that the compounds with x >=0.025 possess glassy behavior at low temperatures. Various results obtained reveal that these two compounds belong to the martensite family.