Magnetic, thermodynamic, and magnetotransport properties of CeGaGe and PrGaGe single crystals

We investigate the physical properties of high-quality single crystals CeGaGe and PrGaGe using magnetization, heat capacity, and magnetotransport measurements. Gallium-indium binary flux was used to grow these single crystals that crystallize in a body-centered tetragonal structure. Magnetic susceptibility data reveal a magnetic phase transition around 6.0 and 19.4 K in CeGaGe and PrGaGe, respectively, which is further confirmed by heat capacity and electrical resistivity data. A number of additional anomalies have been observed below the ordering temperature in the magnetic susceptibility data, indicating a complex magnetic structure. The magnetic measurements also reveal a strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy in both compounds. Our detailed analysis of the crystalline electric field (CEF) effect as observed in magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity data suggests that the J = 5/2 multiplet of CeGaGe splits into three doublets, while the J = 4 degenerate ground state of PrGaGe splits into five singlets and two doublets. The estimated energy levels from the CEF analysis are consistent with the magnetic entropy.

Automated summary

We investigated the physical properties of CeGaGe and PrGaGe single crystals using magnetization, heat capacity, and magnetotransport measurements. Magnetic phase transitions were observed at around 6.0 K and 19.4 K in CeGaGe and PrGaGe, respectively. Additional anomalies below the ordering temperature indicate a complex magnetic structure. The analysis of the crystalline electric field (CEF) effect suggests the splitting of the multiplet in CeGaGe and the degenerate ground state in PrGaGe into different energy levels.