Magnetic anomalies in Gd₂PdSi₃

Abstract

The results of ac and dc magnetic susceptibility, thermopower and Hall effect measurements of a compound, Gd₂PdSi₃, establish that this compound orders magnetically below T_N=20 K. Though the ordering appears to be of an antiferromagnetic-type, the paramagnetic Curie temperature is positive with the magnitude being nearly the same as that of T_N, suggestive of the existence of ferromagnetic correlations. The thermopower at 300 K is large, apparently due to Pd 4d electrons, decreasing monotonically with temperature. There is a change in the sign of Hall constant well below T_N Also considering the observation of Kondo-like characteristics above 21K earlier by us, the overall thermal, transport and magnetic behaviour of this compound is interesting.