Observation of large negative magnetoresistance in the noncentrosymmetric compound PrPtSi

We report the magnetotransport and thermodynamic properties of PrPtSi which crystallizes with the noncentrosymmetric LaPtSi-type structure (space group: I41md). Signatures from specific heat and magnetic susceptibility reveal an anomaly at T* ≃ 5.5 K which is attributed to crystal field effects. We find a negative magnetoresistance whose magnitude grows with decreasing temperature, with a value of −17.4% at 1.9 K and in 7 T. Results from the electronic-derived specific heat C4f reveal an upturn in C4f(T)/T at low temperature and traces a −logT dependence, attaining values of 1.1 J/(mol K2) and 3.6 J/(mol K2) at 0.38 K in zero and 4 T, respectively.