Magnetic anisotropy, first-order-like metamagnetic transitions, and large negative magnetoresistance in single-crystal Gd 2 PdSi 3

TLDR: In this article, a single-crystal Gd alloys with a hexagonal hexagonal structure were reported, and a well-defined minimum in electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, magnetization, thermopower, and Hall effect measurements were obtained.

Abstract: Electrical resistivity (\ensuremath{\rho}), magnetoresistance (MR), magnetization, thermopower, and Hall-effect measurements on the single-crystal ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{2}{\mathrm{PdSi}}_{3},$ crystallizing in an ${\mathrm{AlB}}_{2}$-derived hexagonal structure, are reported. The well-defined minimum in \ensuremath{\rho} at a temperature above N\'eel temperature ${(T}_{N}=21\mathrm{K})$ and large negative MR below $\ensuremath{\sim}{3T}_{N},$ reported earlier for the polycrystals, are reproducible even in single crystals. Such features are generally uncharacteristic of Gd alloys. In addition, we also found interesting features in other data, e.g., two-step first-order-like metamagnetic transitions for the magnetic field along [0001] direction. The alloy exhibits anisotropy in all these properties, though Gd is an $S$-state ion.