Spin-glass-like behavior of ternary uranium compound U₂AuSi₃

DC magnetization, specific heat and magnetic relaxation measurements are reported for a polycrystalline U₂AuSi₃. The temperature dependence of the magnetization shows a cusp at a characteristic temperature T_f that strongly depends on the applied magnetic field. The specific heat does not show visible singularity around T_f, ruling out the existence of the usual long range spatial magnetic order. The pronounced difference between the zero field cooled (ZFC) and the field cooled (FC) magnetization, as well as the very slow decay of the remanence indicate the occurrence of a highly irreversible frozen state below T_f. These features are the characteristics of spin glass behavior.