Magnetic and Related Properties of Ternary TmTX Intermetallics

Abstract

Since many years, rare earth intermetallics R T X, where R = rare earth, T = d-electron and X = p-electron elements, have been a subject of extensive studies due to their intriguing magnetic and electrical properties [1, 2]. Amidst plentitude of such phases with various chemical compositions and stoichiometries, a series of equiatomic compounds RTX received special attention due to simplicity of their crystal structure and large span in their physical behaviors [3]. While much information is available in the literature for the RTX intermetallics with R = Ce Er, relatively little is known on their counterparts with R = Tm. Most recently, we reported on the magnetic properties of TmRhGe and TmRhGa, which were found to order antiferromagnetically below 6.0 K [4] and 3.9 K [5], respectively. Similarly, we established before antiferromagnetic ordering in TmNiIn, TmPtIn and TmAgGe to set at TN = 2.5 [6], 3.4 [7] and 4.2 K [8], respectively. Here, we give the rst account on our on-going studies on a few other Tm-based equiatomic materials, namely TmPdIn, TmAgSn, TmAuGe and TmRuGe. The experimental results are compared with the data previously obtained for the compounds TmNiIn, TmPtIn and TmAgGe.