Possible canted antiferromagnetism in UCu$_9$Sn$_4$


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We report on the new compound UCu${}_9$Sn${}_4$ which crystallizes in the tetragonal structure emph{I}4/emph{mcm} with lattice parameters $a = 8.600{rmAA}$ and $c = 12.359{rmAA}$. This compound is isotyp to the ferromagnetic systems RECu${}_9$Sn${}_4$ (RE = Ce, Pr, Nd) with Curie temperatures $T{}rm_C$ = 5.5 K, 10.5 K and 15 K, respectively. UCu${}_9$Sn${}_4$ exhibits an uncommon magnetic behavior resulting in three different electronic phase transitions. Below 105 K the sample undergoes a valence transition accompanied by an entropy change of 0.5 Rln2. At 32 K a small hump in the specific heat and a flattening out in the susceptibility curve probably indicate the onset of helical spin order. To lower temperatures a second transition to antiferromagnetic ordering occurs which develops a small ferromagnetic contribution on lowering the temperature further. These results are strongly hinting for canted antiferromagnetism in UCu${}_9$Sn${}_4$.

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