Phase transitions in PrCu<SUB>2</SUB>Ge<SUB>2</SUB>

The compound PrCu<SUB>2</SUB>Ge<SUB>2</SUB> is known to order antiferromagnetically at about 16 K. In this article, we report the results of electrical resistance, magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements extended to low temperatures (well below 4.2 K). The results establish the existence of a discontineous phase transition at 4.2 K, in addition to the 16K-antiferromagnetic transition, possibly due to a change in the magnetic structure. Metamagnetic isothermal magnetization behaviour at 2 K and 5 K is observed at about 15 KOe thereby suggesting strong anisotropic nature of the exchange interaction