Anisotropy in magnetic and transport properties of LaTSb3 (T = Cr, V) -: art. no. 014421

We report measurements of anisotropy in magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and electrical resistivity using single crystals of LaTSb3 (T = Cr,V). LaTSb3 is a quasi-two-dimensional system with an orthorhombic crystal structure (space group Pbcm), possessing a rich phase diagram with a ferromagnetic transition at T-C = 132 K due to the ordering of the Cr ions. In order to investigate LaTSb3, magnetic susceptibility and magnetization for fields up to 55 kG and in the temperature range of 2-350 K have been measured with the field aligned to the three principle axes. The electrical resistivity of LaCrSb3 has been measured for currents parallel to the a, b, and c axes in the temperature range 5-295 K, as well as magnetoresistance at 20 k and 60 kG along the b axis. Isostructural LaVSb3 is found have no transitions in either the magnetization or the resistivity; therefore, it is presented as a nonmagnetic counterpart. Just below T-C, the easy axis is found to be within the b-c plane in the direction of the magnetic field. As the system is further cooled. there is a crossover from quasi-two-dimensional (2D) to 3D anisotropy below a characteristic temperature T*, and the easy axis of magnetization becomes oriented along the b axis. Furthermore, it is found that T* decreases linearly as the magnetic field is increased, and is suppressed with a field H > 3.7 kG. A high-temperature antiferromagnetic transition is found at T-N = 98 K. The value of T-N is found to be independent of the applied magnetic field up to H = 0.25 kG, at which point this antiferromagnetic phase is suppressed.