Magnetic properties of PrCu$_2$ at high pressure

TL;DR

This study investigates the high-pressure magnetic phase diagram of PrCu$_2$ using theoretical calculations and NQR measurements, revealing pressure-induced incommensurate antiferromagnetic order influenced by crystal electric fields and exchange interactions.

Contribution

It combines molecular-field calculations with NQR measurements to elucidate the pressure-induced magnetic phases in PrCu$_2$, highlighting the role of crystal electric fields and exchange interactions.

Findings

Pressure induces an incommensurate antiferromagnetic phase.

Magnetic order is influenced by crystal electric field effects.

Magnetic fluctuations are significant at various pressures.

Abstract

We report a study of the low-temperature high-pressure phase diagram of the intermetallic compound PrCu$_2$, by means of molecular-field calculations and $^{63,65}$Cu nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) measurements under pressure. The pressure-induced magnetically-ordered phase can be accounted for by considering the influence of the crystal electric field on the $4f$ electron orbitals of the Pr$^{3+}$ ions and by introducing a pressure-dependent exchange interaction between the corresponding local magnetic moments. Our experimental data suggest that the order in the induced antiferromagnetic phase is incommensurate. The role of magnetic fluctuations both at high and low pressures is also discussed.