Magnetic and electrical properties of Pr₇Ni₃ single crystal

Magnetic and electrical properties of Pr₇Ni₃ have been studied using single crystals. Pr₇Ni₃ possesses an ferrimagnetic or canted state below T_N = 4.2 K and another phase transition has been found at T_t = 2.2 K. A large magnetic anisotropy was observed between c-axis and c-plane below T_N. At 1.9 K, the magnetization curve in the low magnetic field shows a ferromagnetic like behavior along the c-axis and antiferromagnetic one in the c-plane. However, magnetization at 70 kOe in the c-plane (1.27 μ_B/Pr) is larger than that along the c-axis (0.75 μ_B/Pr). That is, Pr₇Ni₃ has a small ferromagnetic component in the direction of c-axis, and magnetic moments tend to orient in the c-plane. Electrical resistivity shows metallic conduction and a small anomaly at T_t.