Double magnetic phase transitions and magnetotransport anomalies in a new compound Gd$_\textbf{2}$AgSi$_\textbf{3}$

Abstract

Dc and ac-magnetic susceptibility ($\chi$), specific heat ($C_\mathrm{P}$), electrical resistivity ($\rho$) and magnetoresistance measurements performed on the new polycrystalline compound $\mathrm{Gd_2AgSi_3}$, crystallizing in the $\alpha$-$\mathrm{ThSi_2}$ tetragonal structure, are reported. Two magnetic phase transitions were observed in dc and ac susceptibility, specific heat, and resistivity measurements at temperatures $\mathrm{T_{N_1}} = 11$ K and $\rm{T_{N_2}} = 20$ K, despite a single site occupied by Gd atom, which is an indication of the complex magnetic behavior. $\mathrm{Gd_2AgSi_3}$ turns out to be one of the rare Gd compound in which a minimum is observed in the temperature dependence of resistivity in the paramagnetic state and also negative magnetoresistance over a wide temperature range (above $\rm{T_{N_2}}$), mimicking the behavior of exotic $\mathrm{Gd_2PdSi_3}$, in this ternary family. The isothermal magnetic entropy and adiabatic temperature changes reach a value of 9.5 J/kg-K and 7.5 K respectively for the field change of 9 T.