title: Geometrical spin frustration in Pr5Ni2Si3 composed of triangular crystal lattices.
abstract: We have studied the transport, magnetic and thermal properties of Pr5Ni2Si3 with complex triangular lattices under various magnetic fields. The ferromagnetic transitions in the basal plane were observed at T(C1) = 52 K and T(C2) = 65 K. A decrease in magnetization below 30 K and the reduced paramagnetic Curie temperature θP are indicative of the development of antiferromagnetic correlation. These features are well understood by the frustration effect of the magnetic moments of Pr ions which constitute the triangular structural unit. The frustration caused the rapid rise of electrical resistivity below 30 K and an enormous entropy in low-temperature regions. The antiferromagnetic correlation acting between the frustrated Pr ions never causes any long-range order down to 0.6 K.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emerging Materials Science, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 711-873, Korea.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kwon