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Abstract:
We have measured the magnetization and magnetoresistance for a series of rare-earth (R=Er,Ho,Dy) plumbide intermetallic compounds, R2Ni2Pb. These materials form in an unusual orthorhombic structure with space group Cmmm. After multiple magnetic transitions, the ground state exhibits a steplike series of large-moment metamagnetic transitions in low fields (1-2 T) concomitant with switchinglike properties of the magnetoresistance where sharp changes of up to 30% are found. We relate these properties to the layered magnetic structure of the compound.