First order magnetic transition in CeFe$_2$ alloys: Phase-coexistence and metastability

TL;DR

This study investigates the first order ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase transition in doped-CeFe$_2$ alloys, revealing phase coexistence and metastability on micrometer scales influenced by disorder, with implications for other materials.

Contribution

It provides direct visual evidence of phase coexistence and metastability during the first order magnetic transition in doped-CeFe$_2$ alloys, highlighting disorder effects.

Findings

Clear micrometer-scale phase coexistence observed.

Evolution of phase coexistence with temperature, field, and time documented.

Disorder influences the first order transition and metastability.

Abstract

First order ferromagnetic (FM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase transition in doped-CeFe$_2$ alloys is studied with micro-Hall probe technique. Clear visual evidence of magnetic phase-coexistence on micrometer scales and the evolution of this phase-coexistence as a function of temperature, magnetic field and time across the first order FM-AFM transition is presented. Such phase-coexistence and metastability arise as natural consequence of an intrinsic disorder-influenced first order transition. Generality of this phenomena involving other classes of materials is discussed.