First order transition from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism in Ce(Fe$_{0.96}$Al$_{0.04})_2$
arXiv:cond-mat/0012472 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.64.104416
Abstract
Results of dc magnetization study are presented showing interesting thermomagnetic history effects across the antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in Ce(Fe$_{0.96}$Al$_{0.04})_2$. Specifically, we observe (i)ZFC/FC irreversibility rising with increasing field; (ii) virgin curve lying outside the envelope M-H curve. We argue that these effects are quite different from the characteristics seen in spin-glasses or in hard ferromagnets; they can be understood as metastabilities associated with a first order magnetic phase transition.
10 pages and 5 figures