Thermal expansion and magnetostriction of GdAg2, and relations to the magnetoelastic paradox

The antiferromagnet GdAg2 has been shown to be a good model system for the magnetoelastic paradox (MEP), because it exhibits large symmetry conserving magnetoelastic strains and the antiferromagnetic propagation vector breaks the tetragonal lattice symmetry (therefore a large symmetry breaking magnetoelastic strain can be expected in a single q magnetic structure). As in many similar Gd based compounds no symmetry breaking strain has been found in the experiment. In order to investigate this MEP further, we have measured magnetostriction and magnetization on a textured polycrystal. The behaviour closely resembles that of GdNi2B2C, the prototype system for the magnetoelastic paradox (MEP). Our forced magnetostriction data indicate that the crystal distorts in applied magnetic field and gives further evidence that the MEP is a low field effect. The observed phase transitions are in agreement with available specific heat and neutron diffraction data. Moreover, the saturation magnetic field was measured in high pulsed magnetic fields and agrees well with the value calculated from the Standard Model of Rare Earth Magnetism (SMREM).

► Magnetoelastic paradox (MEP) in GdAg2 is verified first time by applying magnetic field.
► Magnetostriction data indicates that the MEP is a zero field effect.
► Saturation magnetic field is calculated from the SMREM and then verified experimentally.