Temperature- and field-induced transitions in NdIn3

Abstract The cubic (AuCu 3 type structure) compound NdIn 3 has been investigated by means of specific heat, thermal expansion and high-field magnetization experiments. It undergoes at 5.90 K a second-order transition to an antiferromagnetic state. In the ordered range we have discovered two first-order transitions at T (1) c = 4.61 K and T (2) c = 5.13 K. At low temperatures in comparison to T N we have observed two sharp, first-order field-induced metamagnetic transitions in the 〈001〉 direction. The first of these is the transition to an intermediate phase I with a magnetization equal to half of the saturation value, and the second one to the paramagnetic state P. At high temperatures the AF-I and I-P transitions are of second order. The changeover from the second- to the first order occurs at the tricritical point for the I-P transition and at the multicritical point for the AF-I one. These critical points are near 4.0 K. In the intermediate phase I a perpendicular spin arrangement probably occurs.