Metastability and giant relaxation across the ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition in Ce (Fe<SUB>0.96</SUB>Ru<SUB>0.04</SUB>)<SUB>2</SUB>

Experimental results of magnetization measurements of first-order ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transitions in Ce(Fe0.96Ru0.04)2 alloy are presented. The metastability of states in the transition region gives rise to large relaxation and lack of end-point-memory effect in the magnetization. Traditional phenomenological asymmetry between the extent of supercooling and superheating is observed in the temperature and magnetic field variation of the magnetization and is also confirmed in relaxation results. Nonuniform variation of the relaxation rate with magnetic field gives a clear picture of the nucleation and growth of phases