Correlation between charge density waves and antiferromagnetism in Nd$_{1-x}$Gd$_x$NiC$_2$ solid solution

Abstract

We report a study on the evolution of a charge density wave and antiferromagnetism in the series of the polycrystalline solid solution Nd$_{1-x}$Gd$_x$NiC$_2$ (0 $\leq$ x $\leq$ 1) by means of magnetic and transport properties measurements. The experimental results reveal the violation of the de Gennes law and a strong correlation between the Peierls, N\'eel and Curie-Weiss temperatures, which strongly suggests a cooperative interaction between the charge density wave state and antiferromagnetism due to Fermi surface nesting enhancement of the RKKY interaction. We also find that, the obtained results for the Nd$_{1-x}$Gd$_x$NiC$_2$ (0 $\leq$ x $\leq$ 1) series overlap with the $T_{CDW}$ trend line in the phase diagram for RNiC$_2$ family.