Magnetic Properties of the RAuBi2 (R = Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Sm) Series of Intermetallic Compounds☆

Abstract In this work we report the physical properties of the series of intermetallic compounds RAuBi2 (R = Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Sm) studied by means of x-ray powder diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements. These compounds were grown using the metallic Bi self-flux technique and they crystallize in a tetragonal ZrCuSi2 (P4/nmm) structure. Our RAuBi2 single crystals show an antiferromagnetic ordering T N ≥ 2.3K for all measured compounds. The values of T N show a dramatic breakdown of the De Gennes factor along this series.