Field suppression of the modulated phase of Ce2Pd2Sn

Low temperature magnetic (M) and thermal (CP) properties of the intermetallic compound Ce2Pd2Sn have been investigated at zero and different magnetic fields. Two transitions were recognized at TC = 2.1 K and TM = 4.8 K, with latter nearly coinciding with the extrapolated Curie-Weiss temperature θP = 4.5 K. The Curie factor evaluated from T ≥ TM, is ≈ 2 μB. The positive value of θP, the triangular coordination of the magnetic (Ce) atoms and the weak effect of applied magnetic field, reveal that TM cannot be considered as a canonic antiferromagnetic transition like claimed in the literature. M (T) measurements under moderate magnetic fields (0 ≤ B ≤ 2.5 kOe) show TC (B) increasing while TM (B) is practically not affected. Both transition merge in a critical point at Tcr = (4.3 ± 0.3) K for Bcr = (2.1 ± 0.3) kOe, where the intermediate phase is suppressed. At TC = 2.2 K, the cusp of a first order transition is observed in CP (T). According to the proposed ferromagnetic ground state, it is followed by a CP (T) ∝ T3 / 2 exp (- Eg / T) dependence, with a gap of anisotropy Eg ≈ 7 K. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.