Spin Flop Type Metamagnetic Transition In Polycrystalline Gdfeo3

We report the results of detailed investigations on structural and magnetic properties of polycrystalline GdFeO3 compound. Temperature-dependent magnetization studies support an antiferromagnetic transition at T-N(Gd3+) similar to 2.8 K associated with Gd3+ spins. A clear spin-flop type metamagnetic transition associated with Gd3+ sub lattice is observed in field-dependent magnetization measurements made across T-N(Gd3+). The compound also shows a weak hysteresis behaviour linked to canted Fe3+ moments near-zero field region, with a remnant magnetization of similar to 0.022 mu(B).