Suppression of ferromagnetism in the La(V$_x$Cr$_{1-x}$)Sb$_3$ system

Abstract

To explore the possibility of quantum phase transitions and even quantum criticality in LaCrSb$_3$ based compounds, we performed measurements under pressure as well as a vanadium substitution study. The Curie temperature of LaCrSb$_3$ was found to be invariant under pressure. Although pressure was not able to suppress the ferromagnetism, chemical substitution was used as another parameter to tune the magnetism. We grew La(V$_x$Cr$_{1-x}$)Sb$_3$ (\textit{x} = 0 -- 1.0) single crystals, and studied the series by measurements of temperature and field dependent magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, resistivity, and specific heat. Ferromagnetism has been observed for $x \leq 0.22$, and the system manifests a strong anisotropy in its ordered state. The Curie temperature decreases monotonically as the V concentration increases. For $0.42 \leq x \leq 0.73$, the system enters a new magnetic state at low temperatures, and no magnetic ordering above 1.8 K can be observed for $x \geq 0.88$. The effective moment $\mu_{\rm eff}$/Cr varies only slightly as the V concentration increases, from 3.9 $\mu_{\rm B}$ for $x$ = 0 to 2.9 $\mu_{\rm B}$ for $x$ = 0.88. Features related to quantum criticality have not been observed in the La(V$_x$Cr$_{1-x}$)Sb$_3$ system.