Effect of swift heavy ions irradiation on single crystals of RCu2Ga2 (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Gd)

We try to explore the use of swift heavy ion irradiation as a possible route to fabricate nanometer-scale magnetic objects from intermetallic rare earth-transition metal targets. N. Fujita et al studied ion-irradiation-induced ferromagnetism in FeRh. Amorphization of rare earth - cobalt intermetallic alloys by swift heavy-ion irradiation has been studied by M Ghidini et al. We have grown single crystals of tetragonal RCu2Ga2 (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Gd), which is of ThCr2Si2 type structure (space group 14/mmm), by high temperature solution growth technique using Ga as flux. We have measured the field and temperature dependence of magnetization and resistivity along the principal crystallographic directions, and the heat capacity. Excepting LaCu2Ga2, the compounds order magnetically. CeCu2Ga2 and PrCu2Ga2 undergo ferromagnetic transitions with Curie temperatures of 3.8 and 4.4 K respectively; NdCu2Ga2 shows a bulk magnetic transition at 3.3 K. The data on GdCu2Ga2 indicate combined characteristics of spin glass and antiferromagnetic behavior at low temperatures. The electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements of GdCu2Ga2 in paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases were also performed. Further, irradiation of RCu2Ga2 has been done and the effects of irradiation on the properties of these compounds will be discussed in detail in conference