Anomalous magnetism and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of the ZrNi1−xCrxSn solid solution

Abstract

Abstract The static magnetic properties and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of ZrNi 1− x Cr x Sn solid solution (0 x ≤0.4) have been investigated in the temperature range 140–300 K. Materials were prepared by arc-melting of the pure metals. It was found that ferromagnetic ordering occurs in the samples with small chromium concentration. EPR spectra of the materials with x =0.05, 0.1, 0.2 consist of three absorption lines. The I and II lines are characterised by g =1.99±0.01, Δ H pp =(120±5) G type and g =1.980±0.001, peak-to-peak width Δ H pp =(10±1) G, respectively. They have been attributed to Cr 3+ ions in Ni-sites of the lattice coupled by magnetic dipolar interaction (type I) and to exchange coupled Cr 3+ pairs or clusters of more than two Cr 3+ ions (type II). The third line detected in the samples with x =0.3, 0.4 characterised by g eff =2.0003±0.0001 and Δ H pp =(3.0±0.5) G has been interpreted as conduction electron spin resonance (CESR).