Sharp magnetization step across the ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic transition in doped CeFe₂ alloys

Abstract

Very sharp magnetization step is observed across the field-induced antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition in various doped CeFe₂ alloys, when the measurement is performed below 5 K. In the higher temperature regime (T>5 K) this transition is quite smooth in nature. Comparing to the recently observed similar behavior in manganites showing colossal magnetoresistance and magnetocaloric material Gd₅Ge₄, we argue that such a magnetization step is a generalized feature of a disorder-influenced first-order phase transition.