Structure and magnetic, thermal, and electronic transport properties of single crystal EuPd$_2$Sb$_2$

EuPd$_2$Sb$_2$ is closely related to the $A$Fe$_2$As$_2$ compounds. Single crystal x-ray diffraction studies confirmed that EuPd$_2$Sb$_2$ crystallizes in the CaBe$_2$Ge$_2$-type structure. The magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity versus temperature measurements suggest antiferromagnetic ordering at 6.0~K with the easy axis or plane in the crystallographic $ab$ plane. An additional transition occurs at 4.5~K that may be a spin reorientation transition. The 4.5~K transition is suppressed below 1.8~K while the 6.0~K transition moves down to 3.5~K in a magnetic field of $H = 8$~T. Resistivity data show metallic behavior down to 1.8~K along with an anomaly at 5.8~K in zero field. The anomaly is suppressed to 2.9~K in an 8~T field. The Hall coefficient measurements indicated that the dominant charge carriers are electrons. The magnetization $M(H)$ isotherms show three field-induced anomalies at 2.75~T, 3.90~T, and 4.2~T magnetic fields parallel to the $ab$ plane at 1.8~K\@.