Unusual Magnetic, Thermal, and Transport Behaviors of Single Crystal EuRh2As2

TL;DR

This study investigates the unusual magnetic, thermal, and transport properties of single crystal EuRh2As2, revealing complex magnetic transitions, significant field effects on specific heat, magnetoresistance, and Hall coefficient, supported by band structure calculations.

Contribution

The paper reports novel magnetic and electronic behaviors in EuRh2As2, including a high-temperature antiferromagnetic transition and field-induced effects, with theoretical insights into its electronic structure.

Findings

Antiferromagnetic transition at 47 K with mean field consistency

38% reduction in electronic specific heat coefficient under magnetic field

Strong positive magnetoresistance and Hall coefficient changes below 25 K

Abstract

An antiferromagnetic transition is observed in single crystal EuRh2As2 at a high temperature T_N = 47 K compared to the ferromagnetic Weiss temperature theta = 12 K. We show that this is, surprisingly, consistent with mean field theory. A first-order field-induced magnetic transition is observed at T < T_N with an unusual temperature dependence of the transition field. A dramatic magnetic field-induced reduction of the electronic specific heat coefficient at 1.8-5.0 K by 38% at 9 T is observed. In addition, a strong positive magnetoresistance and a large change in the Hall coefficient occur below 25 K. Band structure calculations indicate that the Fermi energy lies on a steep edge of a narrow peak in the density of states.