Interplay of 3d and 4f magnetism in RCrSb₃

Abstract

RCrSb₃ crystallizes in a quasi two dimensional structure with RSb and CrSb₂ layers stacked along a axis. This system displays rich magnetic structure due to complex magnetic interaction between 3d moments of Cr and 4f moments of rare earth ion. In this work, we present a comparative study on the heat capacity of R(La, Ce, Pr, Nd)CrSb₃ which exemplifies the interplay between two magnetic species (Cr³⁺ and R³⁺ ions) leading to a complex magnetic phase diagram of RCrSb₃ system. The nature of ordering of the rare earth ion is quite different in all the compounds. Moreover,the ferromagnetic ordering temperature T_C of Cr spins decreases with the decrease of the size of the rare earth ion.