Avoided ferromagnetic quantum critical point in pressurized La5Co2Ge3

We present the pressure-temperature phase diagram La5Co2Ge3 up to similar to 5 GPa, which was constructed from magnetization, resistivity, and specific heat measurements. At ambient pressure, La5Co2Ge3 is an itinerant ferromagnet with a Curie temperature T-C similar to 4 K. Upon increasing pressure up to similar to 1.7 GPa, Tc is suppressed down to similar to 3 K. Upon further increasing pressure, our results suggest that La5Co2Ge3 enters a different low-temperature ground state. The corresponding transition temperature T* has a nonmonotonic pressure dependence up to similar to 5 GPa. Our results demonstrate that the ferromagnetic quantum critical point in La5Co2Ge3 is avoided by the appearance of a different, likely magnetically ordered, state that has an antiferromagnetic component.

Automated summary

The pressure-temperature phase diagram of La5Co2Ge3 was constructed up to 5 GPa, showing a change in magnetic behavior and transition to a new low-temperature ground state. This suggests that the ferromagnetic quantum critical point in La5Co2Ge3 is avoided by the appearance of a different, likely magnetically ordered state with an antiferromagnetic component.