Pressure-tuning of the electronic and magnetic properties of EuPt2Si2

Using the element and orbital selectivity of x-ray absorption spectroscopy at Eu and Pt L3 edges we investigate the effects of the lattice contraction, induced by temperature and external pressure, on the magnetic and electronic properties of the EuPt2Si2 system. Our findings point to a clear relationship between the volume and the Eu valence in this material. From XANES experiments as a function of pressure we show that the Europium valence tends to stabilize at 3+ for pressures up to 27 GPa. The XMCD results demonstrate that pressure induced valence change of the Europium ion leads to a suppression of the magnetic ordering of the material. Altogether our results provide direct evidence that Eu-4f/5d electronic hybridization effects underlie the mechanism that regulates the valence and magnetic ordering in this material.