Double Magnetic Transition in Pr0.5Sr0.5CoO3

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic and electronic properties of Pr0.5Sr0.5CoO3, revealing a second magnetic transition at 120 K that suggests complex ferromagnetic behavior possibly linked to orbital ordering.

Contribution

It reports the discovery of a second magnetic anomaly in Pr0.5Sr0.5CoO3, indicating a novel magnetic transition not previously characterized in this material.

Findings

An anomaly at 120 K distinct from the main ferromagnetic transition.

The anomaly's appearance depends on the applied magnetic field.

The anomaly may be related to a second ferromagnetic transition or orbital effects.

Abstract

We report studies of polycrystalline samples of the metallic ferromagnet Pr0.5Sr0.5CoO3 through measurements of the magnetization, a.c. magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, and specific heat. We find an unusual anomaly around TA = 120 K, much below the ferromagnetic transition (TC = 226 K). The anomaly is manifested in field cooled magnetization as a downward step in low fields (H less than or equal to 0.01 T) but is transformed into an upward step for H greater than or equal to 0.05 T. The anomaly cannot be easily attributed to antiferromagnetic ordering, but may correspond to a second ferromagnetic transition or an alteration of the ferromagnetic state associated with orbital ordering.