  We report the results of ac and dc magnetic susceptibility (chi) and
electrical resistivity (rho) measurements on the single crystals of Er2PdSi3,
crystallizing in an AlB2-derived hexagonal structure, for two orientations
H//[0001] and H//[2 -1 -1 0]. For H//[0001], there are apparently two magnetic
transitions as revealed by the ac chi data, one close to 7 K attributable to
antiferromagnetic ordering and the other around 2 K. However, for H // [2 -1 -1
0], we observe additional features above 7 K (near 11 and 23 K) in the plot of
low-field chi(T); also, there is no corresponding anomaly in the rho(T) plot.
In this respect, the magnetic behavior of this compound is novel, particularly
while compared with other members of this series. The features in ac chi
respond differently to the application of a small dc magnetic field for the two
directions. As far as low temperature (T= 1.8 and 5 K) isothermal magnetization
(M) behaviour is concerned, it exhibits meta-magnetic-like features around 2
kOe saturating at high fields for the former orientation, whereas for the
latter, there is no saturation even at 120 kOe. The sign of paramagnetic Curie
temperature is different for these two directions. Thus, there is a strong
anisotropy in the magnetic behavior. However, interestingly, the rho(T) plots
are found to be essentially isotropic, with the data revealing possible
formation of magnetic superzone formation below 7 K.
