Single crystal growth of PrNiGe$_2$ compounds

Abstract

We report on the magnetic characterization of a praseodym intermetallic PrNiGe$_2$. Several single crystals are grown by the Czochralski method from Ni- deficient sample as the initial one. X-ray analysis of PrNi$_{0.8}$Ge$_2$ indicated the CeNiSi$_2$-type structure as the only phase. The magnetic measurements clearly indicate that PrNi$_x$Ge$_2$ exhibits a ferromagnetic orderings at 12 K, which is independent with of composition of Ni. A strong anisotropy along the three principal crystallographic directions was observed, reflecting the orthorhombic symmetry of the crystal structure. The $b$-axis was found to be the easy axis of magnetization.