Precise magnetization measurement and magnetostriction of dense-Kondo compound CeNi sub(2)Al sub(5)

The precise magnetization at 400 mK and magnetostriction at 1.2K of a magnetic dense-Kondo compound CeNi sub(2)Al sub(5) with a complex magnetic phase diagram are presented. Obvious anomalies corresponding to the phase transitions have been observed, involving stepwise changes of magnetization occurring at B sub(i)= 3.52T, B sub(e)= 6.58T, B sub(h)= 5.67T and B sub(f)= 6.36T. At these fields, stepwise changes of magnetostriction are also observed. Only the field B sub(i) increases with increasing temperature, contrary to the other transition fields. We contend that not only the Kondo effect but also magnetoelastic and/or quadrapolar effects must be taken into account to explain these complex phase transitions. copyright 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.