Magnetotransport in Nd B6 single crystals

Abstract

We have measured the electrical resistivity, Hall effect, and magnetization of a Nd B6 single crystal, in a temperature range from 2 to 300 K, and in magnetic fields of up to 7 T. We find that the low-field Hall resistivity varies strongly with temperature. This variation arises entirely from the large anomalous Hall effect we find in Nd B6. In the paramagnetic region, the anomalous Hall coefficient is much larger than the ordinary one and is independent of temperature. As the antiferromagnetic order sets in, below ∼8 K, it decreases sharply with decreasing temperature. We do not find any significant variations of the anomalous Hall coefficient in the neighborhood of the critical point. Both magnetization and Hall resistivity show an anomaly in low magnetic fields, which may arise from domain rotations. © 2005 The American Physical Society.