Magnetic properties of GdFe2Ge2

Abstract We have studied the magnetic properties of the antiferromagnetic body-centred tetragonal compound GdFe2Ge2 by means of DC susceptibility, high-field free powder and specific heat measurements in high magnetic fields. The magnetic measurements indicate a significant contribution of the non-4f electrons to the magnetic properties of the compound. The magnetisation and the zero-field specific heat data can be described satisfactorily in a generalised molecular-field model based upon equal-moment modes for Gd moments interacting with an itinerant-electron band.