MAGNETORESISTANCE AND MAGNETIZATION STUDIES OF THE LAVES-PHASE COMPOUND CE(FE0.92AL0.08)2

A detailed study of magnetoresistance and magnetization is reported on the Laves-phase compound Ce(Fe0.92Al0.08)2 in the temperature range o f 4.4 to 250 K and in magnetic fields up to 45 kOe. The measurements i ndicate a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition at 170 K and rule o ut the possibility of a spin-glass transition as had been earlier repo rted in some studies. The magnetoresistance measurements clearly indic ate that the compound has an antiferromagnetic state below 100 K as su ggested by earlier neutron-scattering measurements. The antiferromagne tic state is found to undergo a metamagnetic transition which could be observed in the present study above 60 K.