Magnetic and magneto-caloric properties of Tb5Ge2Si2

We have studied the magnetic properties and magneto-caloric effect in the compound Tb5Ge2Si2 by means of magnetic measurements. The compound Tb5Ge2Si2 is a canted antiferromagnet with Gd5Ge2Si2-type monoclinic structure. The ordering temperature is about 76 K. Above the ordering temperature, a field-induced first-order phase transition was observed in the magnetization curves with increasing and decreasing fields. The magnetic entropy changes have been calculated from the magnetization data based on the thermodynamic Maxwell relation. The character of the magnetic entropy changes, depending on the field and temperature, is similar to that in the Gd5Ge2Si2 compound. There is hardly any influence of the magnetic anisotropy on the magneto-caloric effects in Tb5Ge2Si2. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.