The nature of magnetism in CeScSi and CeScGe

Abstract

Conflicting reports on the nature of the magnetic transition in CeScSi and CeScGe have appeared in the literature. We have readdressed this problem in this report by working on well characterized polycrystalline samples. Our data prove conclusively that the two compounds order antiferromagnetically at TN≈26 and 46 K, respectively. An analysis of the x-ray diffraction intensity profile in the polycrystalline samples and a structural refinement of CeScSi by single-crystal work showed that these are crystallographically well ordered intermetallics. It is important to anneal the compounds at the proper temperature to remove parasitic impurity phases which are present in the as-cast materials and are the likely cause of the conflicting reports on these two compounds.