The cage compound Ce₂Pt₉Al₁₆: A low-temperature magnetic field study

We present results of physical properties studies of the new cerium compound Ce₂Pt₉Al₁₆. The crystal structure may be described in terms of cerium-filled atomic cages. Magnetic susceptibility indicates that the magnetism in this compound originates from a stable local moment in trivalent cerium. Incoherent Kondo scattering is evident in the electrical resistivity close to room temperature. The combined results of susceptibility, resistivity and heat capacity show that 4f-spins in Ce ₂Pt₉Al₁₆ produce three successive magnetic phase transitions at low temperatures. Using applied magnetic fields we demonstrate how details of the ground state can be manipulated.