Field-Induced Magnetic States in the Metallic Rare-Earth Layered Triangular Antiferromagnet TbAuAl$_4$Ge$_2$

TL;DR

This study investigates the complex magnetic phases and transport properties of TbAuAl4Ge2, revealing multiple nearly degenerate states, intricate magnetoresistance behavior, and potential non-trivial spin textures in a layered triangular lattice system.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed characterization of magnetic, thermodynamic, and transport properties of TbAuAl4Ge2, highlighting its rich phase diagram and complex quantum spin states.

Findings

Multiple nearly degenerate magnetic states under in-plane field.

Highly enhanced entropy indicating non-trivial spin textures.

Linear magnetoresistance observed along the c-axis.

Abstract

Magnetic frustration in metallic rare earth lanthanides ($Ln$) with $4f$-electrons is crucial for producing interesting magnetic phases with high magnetic anisotropy where intertwined charge and spin degrees of freedom lead to novel phenomena. Here we report on the magnetic, thermodynamic, and electrical transport properties of TbAuAl$_4$Ge$_2$. Tb ions form 2-dimensional triangular lattice layers which stack along the crystalline $c$-axis. The magnetic phase diagram reveals multiple nearly degenerate ordered states upon applying field along the magnetically easy $ab$-plane before saturation. The magnetoresistance in this configuration exhibits intricate field dependence that closely follows that of the magnetization while the specific heat reveals a region of highly enhanced entropy, suggesting the possibility of a non-trivial spin textured phase. For fields applied along the $c$-axis (hard axis), we find linear magnetoresistance over a wide range of fields. We compare the magnetic properties and magnetoresistance with an isostructral GdAuAl$_4$Ge$_2$ single crystals. These results identify TbAuAl$_4$Ge$_2$ as an environment for complex quantum spin states and pave the way for further investigations of the broader $Ln$AuAl$_4$Ge$_2$ family of materials.