Inhomogeneous magnetic state in RAgAl (R = rare earth)

Polycrystalline RAgAl (R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb and Er) compounds which crystallize in the orthorhombic CeCu2-type structure were prepared. Magnetization, AC susceptibility, heat capacity and electrical resistivity studies show characteristics of both long-range order as well as magnetic frustration. Randomness associated with the distribution of non-magnetic atoms may be responsible for the frustration. This system appears to belong to a very special class of materials in which long-range magnetic order or an extended short-range order co-exists with the spin glass-like states.