Evolution of a metastable phase with a magnetic phase coexistence phenomenon and its unusual sensitivity to magnetic field cycling in the alloys Tb_5−xLu_xSi₃ (x≤0.7)

Abstract

Recently, we reported an anomalous enhancement of the positive magnetoresistance beyond a critical magnetic field in Tb₅Si₃ in the magnetically ordered state, attributable to 'inverse metamagnetism'. This results in unusual magnetic hysteresis loops for the pressurized specimens, which are relevant to the topic of 'electronic phase separation'. In this paper, we report the influence of small substitutions of Lu for Tb, to show the evolution of these magnetic anomalies. We find that, at low temperatures, the high-field high-resistivity phase could be partially stabilized on returning the magnetic field to zero in many of these Lu substituted alloys, as measured through the electrical resistivity (ρ). Also, the relative fractions of this phase and the virgin phase appear to be controlled by a small tuning of the composition and temperature. Interestingly, at 1.8 K a sudden 'switch-over' of the value of ρ for this mixed phase to that for the virgin phase for some compositions is observed at low fields after a few field cycles, indicating metastability of this mixed phase.