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Abstract  |
Low temperature magnetic (M) and thermal (CP) properties of the intermetallic compound Ce2Pd2Sn have been investigated at zero and different magnetic fields. Two transitions were recognized at and , with latter nearly coinciding with the extrapolated Curie-Weiss temperature . The Curie factor evaluated from T>=TM, is [approximate]2μB. The positive value of θP, the triangular coordination of the magnetic (Ce) atoms and the weak effect of applied magnetic field, reveal that TM cannot be considered as a canonic antiferromagnetic transition like claimed in the literature. M(T) measurements under moderate magnetic fields () show TC(B) increasing while TM(B) is practically not affected. Both transition merge in a critical point at for , where the intermediate phase is suppressed. At , the cusp of a first order transition is observed in CP(T). According to the proposed ferromagnetic ground state, it is followed by a CP(T)[is proportional to]T3/2exp(-Eg/T) dependence, with a gap of anisotropy . |
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