Anomalous magnetoresistance and magnetocaloric behaviour in layered intermetallic compound NdRu2Si2

The magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetocaloric properties of naturally occurring layered compound NdRu2Si2 with a Néel temperature TN = 24 K have been investigated in the temperature range 60 ≥ T ≥ 1.8 K. It has been shown that a high external magnetic field greatly modifies the MR properties of the compound which in its low temperature ferromagnetic state (T < 10 K) exhibits an unusual positive MR instead of being negative. Although, the magnetocaloric investigations at this field and temperature range further indicates that the compound is in a predominantly ferromagnetic state. With the lowering of temperature, the MR value changes from a negative 34% near TN to a positive 5% at 5 K. Magnetocaloric (MCE) investigations on NdRu2Si2 exhibit two well defined peaks corresponding to the magnetic transitions. A table like MCE behaviour has been observed in the temperature range from 5 K to 45 K.