Magnetization of U₃P₄ in Magnetic Fields Up to 500 kOe

Abstract

Uranium pnictides with the cubic Th₃P₄-type structure (the space group 143d) attract much attention because of a possible non-collinear magnetic structure. It is supposed¹ that the magnetic structure of these crystals consists of three sublattices of U⁴⁺ ions with magnetic moments symmetrically tilted from the [111] direction at some angle. The magnetization jump has been observed² during measurements of the magnetization along the hard direction [100] on U₃As₄ crystals (in a field of about 200 kOe at the temperature 4.2 K). Extensive information on its magnetic anisotropy and phase transitions induced by a magnetic field have been obtained as a result of further experimental and theoretical investigations^3,4 of this substance. In U₃P₄, which is very similar to U₃As₄, the magnetization jump was not observed, however, up to 300 kOe⁵. The purpose of the present work consists in the investigation of U₃P₄ in still higher magnetic fields.