Field-Induced Magnetization Steps in Intermetallic Compounds and Manganese Oxides: The Martensitic Scenario

TL;DR

The paper investigates field-induced magnetization steps in intermetallic germanide Gd5Ge4 and manganite Pr0.6Ca0.4Mn0.96Ga0.04O3, attributing these phenomena to martensitic transition characteristics influenced by magnetic field sweep rates.

Contribution

It demonstrates that martensitic transition behavior explains magnetization jumps and highlights the dependence on magnetic field sweep rates in these compounds.

Findings

Magnetization jumps depend on field sweep rate.

Transitions exhibit martensitic-like characteristics.

Magnetization steps occur at specific field values.

Abstract

Field-induced magnetization jumps with similar characteristics are observed at low temperature for the intermetallic germanide Gd5Ge4and the mixed-valent manganite Pr0.6Ca0.4Mn0.96Ga0.04O3. We report that the field location -and even the existence- of these jumps depends critically on the magnetic field sweep rate used to record the data. It is proposed that, for both compounds, the martensitic character of their antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transitions is at the origin of the magnetization steps.