Unusual 5f magnetism in the U2Fe3Ge ternary Laves phase: a single crystal study

J Phys Condens Matter. 2013 Feb 13;25(6):066010. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/6/066010. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Abstract

Magnetic properties of the intermetallic compound U(2)Fe(3)Ge were studied on a single crystal. The compound crystallizes in the hexagonal Mg(2)Cu(3)Si structure, an ordered variant of the MgZn(2) Laves structure (C14). U(2)Fe(3)Ge displays ferromagnetic order below the Curie temperature T(C) = 55 K and presents an exception to the Hill rule, as the nearest inter-uranium distances do not exceed 3.2 Å. Magnetic moments lie in the basal plane of the hexagonal lattice, with the spontaneous magnetic moment M(s) = 1.0 μ(B)/f.u. at T = 2 K. No anisotropy within the basal plane is detected. In contrast to typical U-based intermetallics, U(2)Fe(3)Ge exhibits very low magnetic anisotropy, whose field does not exceed 10 T. The dominance of U in the magnetism of U(2)Fe(3)Ge is suggested by the (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy study, which indicates very low or even zero Fe moments. Electronic structure calculations are in agreement with the observed easy-plane anisotropy but fail to explain the lack of an Fe contribution to the magnetism of U(2)Fe(3)Ge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Crystallography, X-Ray*
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Germanium / chemistry*
  • Magnetics*
  • Spectroscopy, Mossbauer
  • Temperature
  • Uranium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Germanium
  • Uranium