Study of magnetism and superconductivity in ternary rare-earth-based compounds

Abstract

Most of the studies on coexistence of magnetism (in local moment systems) and superconductivity (SC) had been made either on REMo₆S₈ chalcogenides or on RERh₄B₄ borides. In these systems, the SC arises due to Mo clusters and Rh clusters, respectively, while magnetism is due to rare-earth atom. Recently, we have established the coexistence of antiferromagnetism (AFM) and SC in a crystal structure RE₅T₄X₁₀ (RE=rare earth, Sc and Y, T= transition element Ir and Os, X=Ge and Si). In this work, we will describe our studies related to magnetism and SC in this structure. The important feature of this structure is that there are neither T-T contacts nor clusters of transition metal atoms. This is in contrast to that of Mo chalcogenides and Rh borides which have been well-studied.