Metamagnetic transition and observation of spin-fluctuations in the antiferromagnetic Heusler compound Pd2MnIn

Abstract

We report detailed investigations on the structural, magnetic, magneto-transport and calorimetric aspects of a partially ordered Heusler compound Pd2MnIn. The sample shows antiferomagnetic (AFM) state below around 120 K, though positive paramagnetic Curie temperature signifies a complex magnetic ground state with the presence of both ferromagnetic (FM) and AFM correlations. A clear spin-flop type metamagnetic transition is observed as evident from the magnetization and resistivity data. However, non-saturation of magnetization even at 145 kOe of applied field implies that the high field state may be a spin canted state, originating from the enhanced FM correlations by field induced conduction electron spin polarization. The sample shows a profound quadratic temperature dependence of resistivity below about 20–25 K indicating a spin-fluctuation dominated low temperature region. Previous electronic structure calculations show the existence of a subtle balance between superexchange mediated AFM state and an RKKY (Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yoshida) interaction mediated FM state in Pd2MnIn. Such competing AFM-FM correlations can be accounted for the observed spin fluctuations.