Abstract

Calculation of magnetization of the ternary single crystal compound NdRh2Ge2 has been carried out by using the wave-like molecular field model to explain the complex magnetic behavior. The field-induced magnetic structures having the propagation vectors, 𝐐2=(0,0,39/40), 𝐐3=(0,0,35/40), 𝐐4=(0,0,31/40), and 𝐐5=(0,0,0/40) (= the field-induced ferromagnetic phase) were proposed. Calculation on the basis of these structures and the antiferromagnetic phase with 𝐐1=(0,0,1) well reproduces the experimental magnetization processes and 𝐻-𝑇 magnetic phase diagram.

1. Introduction

Ternary rare earth compounds RM2X2 (R = rare earth, M = Rh, Ru, X = Si or Ge) crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type structure (I4/mmm) [1, 2]. In the numerous series, the RRh2Ge2 is worth studying because of the great diversity of its magnetic properties [3]. Recently, we reported very interesting magnetic behavior of NdRh2Ge2 single crystal [4] as follows.

(i)The compound shows an antiferromagnetic behavior with neel temperature of 50 K.(ii)In the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility, there is another anomaly at 37 K which indicates a magnetic transition. A magnetic transition is also suggested at 20 K from magnetization measurements.(iii)There is a strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with the easy c-axis which leads to an Ising-like behavior in the compound.(iv)At a low temperature, a four-step metamagnetic process appears along the easy c-axis (see Figure 1).(v)The H-T magnetic phase diagram, where there are five magnetic phases, was constructed (see Figure 2).

In the present study, in order to explain this complex magnetic behavior, calculations of the magnetization and an analysis of moment arrangements at various temperatures and under various magnetic fields have been carried out with a wave-like molecular field model [5].

2. Wave-Like Molecular Field Model

The s-f interaction may be an important interaction in metallic rare earth compounds. Considering this interaction of ith atom as the effective Hamiltonian in terms of the molecular field 𝐇𝑚(𝑖),𝐇(𝑖)=𝑔𝐽𝜇B𝐉𝑖𝐇𝑚(𝑖),(1) where 𝐉𝑖 is a good quantum number.

The molecular field acting on an atom on the ith c-plane is given by introducing molecular field coefficient 𝜆(𝑞) depended on Fourier q component as 𝐇𝑚(𝑖)=𝑞𝜆(𝑞)𝐉𝑞cos(𝜋𝑞𝑖+𝜑𝑞),(2) where 𝐉𝑞 is the Fourier q component of 𝐉𝑖. These equations are to be solved self-consistently. The details have been reported by Iwata [5].

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Assumption of the Propagation Vectors at Each Magnetic Phase

For the sake of calculating the magnetic processes by the wave-like molecular field model, knowledge of magnetic structures is required. Only antiferromagnetic structure has been reported on the NdRh2Ge2 compound; it is a simple structure having the propagation vector 𝐐1=(0,0,1) and magnetic moments along the c-axis [6]. On the basis of the facts mentioned below, we can, now, propose magnetic structures for the field-induced magnetic phases.

On most of compounds which show an Ising-like multistep metamagnetic process along the c-axis and have the simple antiferromagnetic structure with 𝐐1, the field-induced phases have propagation vectors 𝐐𝑧=(0,0,𝑞𝑧)(𝑧=1,2,), for example, on PrCo2Si2 [7], NdCo2Si2 [8], and so on. Thus, we assume that the field-induced magnetic phases of NdRh2Ge2 compound have 𝐐𝑧. Wave numbers 𝑞𝑧’s are supposed from the magnetization process as shown in Figure 1. There are five magnetic phases in the metamagnetic process though it is hardly seen in the figure. The magnetization in each phase is 0𝜇B, 0.06𝜇B, 0.32𝜇B, 0.58𝜇B, and 2.59𝜇B (= saturation value 𝑀s), corresponding to (0/40)𝑀s,(1/40)𝑀s,(5/40)𝑀s,(9/40)𝑀s, and (40/40)𝑀s, respectively. This large common denominator suggests a long period structure. Metamagnetic transitions should be responsible for a spin-flip due to the strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. The induced (1/40)𝑀s-phase requires 40 unit cells. Then, we can propose that the field-induced phases have the propagation vectors, 𝐐2=(0,0,39/40),𝐐3=(0,0,35/40),𝐐4=(0,0,31/40),𝐐5=(0,0,0/40) (= the field-induced ferromagnetic phase). Of course, the antiferromagnetic phase has 𝐐1=(0,0,1).

3.2. Determination of the Wave-Dependent Molecular Field Coefficients

Molecular-field coefficients 𝜆(𝐐𝑧) are estimated by finding the best fit of the calculated values with the experimental data of the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and the magnetization process. The values of 𝜆(𝐐𝑧) obtained in this study are plotted in Figure 2. The similar figure of this characteristic curve has been seen in PrCo2Si2 and NdCo2Si2.

3.3. Moment Arrangements in Nonexternal Magnetic Field

The calculated Nd magnetic moment arrangements at various temperatures in nonexternal magnetic field together with the wave-like molecular fields (𝐻𝑚) are illustrated in Figures 3(a)3(c). The 𝐐1-structure (= phase I) is expressed by only one function with 𝑞𝑧=1 since the magnetic structure is AFI-type [6], whereas the 𝐐2-, 𝐐3-structure (= phase II, phase III) are expressed by a sum of forty one harmonic functions with 𝑞𝑧=0/40,1/40,,40/40 since the magnetic phases are intermediate phases below the induced ferromagnetic phase. Obviously, these moment arrangements have been corresponded with the wave-like molecular fields. It is very interesting results that some paramagnetic Nd ions appear in the 𝐐2- and 𝐐3-structure. It is caused by the 𝐻𝑚 (= 0) around the moments and it is seen in TbRu2Ge2 [9].

3.4. Moment Arrangements Under Various Applied Field

Figures 4(a)–4(e) illustrate the calculated Nd magnetic moment arrangements and the behaviors of the total field (𝐻+𝐻𝑚) at 4.2 K. It is seen that the moments flips together with the change of a total field’s sign. The magnitudes of the moments are smaller than 𝑔𝐽𝜇B for all phases because of the CEF effect. It is noticed that no paramagnetic Nd ions appear in this case.

3.5. Magnetization Process and Magnetic Phase Diagram

The calculated magnetization process at 4.2 K under applied fields is shown in Figure 1. The magnetizations are 0𝜇B/f.u., 0.068𝜇B/f.u., 0.32𝜇B/f.u., 0.58𝜇B/f.u., and 2.59𝜇B/f.u. at 0T, 1.4T, 8.9T, 10.1T, and 13.7T, respectively. These values are in good agreement with the experimental values of 0𝜇B/f.u., 0.06𝜇B/f.u., 0.32𝜇B/f.u., 0.58𝜇B/f.u., and 2.59𝜇B/f.u. It is clear that the magnetization curve is reproduced by the calculated values fairly well at 4.2 K.

The calculated H-T diagram together with the experimental points obtained from the magnetization measurements are illustrated in Figure 5. It is shown that the calculations reproduce the main feature of the experimental H-T phase diagram.

4. Summary

The interesting magnetic behavior on the NdRh2Ge2 single crystal had been reported; successive magnetic phase transitions occur at 20 K, 37 K, and 50 K (=𝑇𝑁)At low temperatures, a four-step metamagnetic process appears. We try to explain this complex magnetic behavior by the wave-like molecular field model. For the sake of calculation, the field-induced magnetic structures having the propagation vectors, 𝐐2=(0,0,39/40),𝐐3=(0,0,35/40),𝐐4=(0,0,31/40), and 𝐐5=(0,0,0/40) (= the field-induced ferromagnetic phase) were proposed. On the basis of these structures and the antiferromagnetic structure reported, calculation of magnetization for various temperatures and fields has been performed. The calculation well reproduces main features of the experimental magnetization processes and H-T magnetic phase diagram. So, we believe that the magnetic structures proposed for the field-induced phases are right. To confirm the magnetic structures proposed, neutron diffraction study is needed.