Random magnetic anisotropy in a new compound Sm₂AgSi₃

We report the experimental study on the structural and magnetic properties of a new ternary intermetallic compound Sm₂AgSi₃. The properties of the sample were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction, dc–magnetization, and heat capacity measurements. The polycrystalline compound of Sm₂AgSi₃ crystallizes in the ThSi₂-type tetragonal structure (space group I₄₁/amd). The temperature dependent dc–magnetization and heat capacity results demonstrate that the compound undergoes ferromagnetic behaviour with a Curie temperature (T_C) of 14 K. The large coercive field in hysteresis loops and the thermomagnetic irreversibility in the ferromagnetic region revealed that the compound exhibits a large magnetic anisotropy. The magnitude of the applied field and the coercivity obtained from the M-H loops corroborate with the thermomagnetic irreversibility in the magnetization data. The magnetic contribution of the heat capacity reveals a broad Schottky–type anomaly above T_C, due to the presence of the crystal electric field effect of Sm³⁺ in Sm₂AgSi₃.