Magnetic properties of the tetragonal RCuGa3 (R=Pr, Nd and Gd) single crystals

• RCuGa3 (R=La, Pr, Nd and Gd) single crystals were grown by flux technique.
• The compounds exhibit long range magnetic ordering.
• Crystal electric field levels have been derived from Schottky heat capacity.
• Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of GdCuGa3 are also discussed.

Single crystals of tetragonal RCuGa3 (R=La, Pr, Nd and Gd), with BaNiSn3 type structure (space group I4 mm), have been grown by high temperature solution growth technique using Ga as flux. Their magnetic properties were determined by heat capacity and the measurement of magnetization and electrical resistivity along [100] and [001] directions. Except LaCuGa3, the compounds order magnetically. PrCuGa3 undergoes a ferromagnetic transition with Curie temperature of 4.6 K. NdCuGa3 shows a bulk magnetic transition at 3.3 K. The data on GdCuGa3 indicate combined characteristics of spin glass and antiferromagnetic behavior at low temperatures. From the Schottky heat capacity data the crystal electric field level energy spectra have been determined. Further we have performed temperature dependent measurements of electron spin resonance (ESR) on GdCuGa3 between 11 K and room temperature. The ESR data indicate an enhancement of magnetic fluctuations associated with spin reorientation and both homogeneous and inhomogeneous thermal broadening of the linewidth.