Field-induced magnetic states in the metallic rare-earth layered triangular antiferromagnet TbAuAl4Ge2

Magnetic frustration in metallic rare- earth lanthanides ($Ln$) with $4f$ electrons is crucial for producing interesting magnetic phases with high magnetic anisotropy where intertwined charge and spin degrees of freedom lead to novel phenomena. Here we report on the magnetic, thermodynamic, and electrical transport properties of ${\mathrm{TbAuAl}}₄{\mathrm{Ge}}₂$. Tb ions form two-dimensional triangular lattice layers which stack along the crystalline $c$ axis. The magnetic phase diagram reveals multiple nearly degenerate ordered states upon applying field along the magnetically easy $ab$-plane before saturation. The magnetoresistance in this configuration exhibits intricate field dependence that closely follows that of the magnetization while the specific heat reveals a region of highly enhanced entropy, suggesting the possibility of a nontrivial spin textured phase. For fields applied along the $c$ axis (hard axis), we find linear magnetoresistance over a wide range of fields. We compare the magnetic properties and magnetoresistance with an isostructural ${\mathrm{GdAuAl}}₄{\mathrm{Ge}}₂$ single crystal. These results identify ${\mathrm{TbAuAl}}₄{\mathrm{Ge}}₂$ as an environment for complex quantum spin states and pave the way for further investigations of the broader $Ln{\mathrm{AuAl}}₄{\mathrm{Ge}}₂$ family of materials.