Antiferromagnetic ordering in EuPtGe$_3$ single crystal

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of EuPtGe$_3$ single crystals, revealing antiferromagnetic ordering at 11 K with evidence of a slightly first-order transition, using multiple experimental techniques and mean field modeling.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of EuPtGe$_3$'s magnetic ordering, including exchange interactions and transition character, in a non-centrosymmetric crystal structure.

Findings

Magnetic transition at 11 K confirmed by multiple methods

Evidence of a slight first-order character of the transition

Derived exchange integrals from mean field analysis

Abstract

The magnetic properties of single crystalline EuPtGe$_3$, crystallizing in the non-centrosymmetric BaNiSn$_3$-type crystal structure, have been studied by means of magnetisation, electrical resistivity, heat capacity and $^{151}$Eu M\"ossbauer spectroscopy. The susceptibility and heat capacity data indicate a magnetic transition at $T_{\rm N}$ = 11\,K. The M\"ossbauer data confirm this conclusion, but evidence a slight first order character of the transition. Analysing the magnetisation data using a mean field model with two antiferromagnetically coupled sublattices allows to explain some aspects of the magnetic behaviour, and to derive the first and second neighbour exchange integrals in EuPtGe$_3$.