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Depression of the superconducting transition temperature of the Heusler alloy Pd/sub 2/YSn with the addition of magnetic rare-earth metals

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)
The compound Pd/sub 2/YSn, having the cubic Heusler L2/sub 1/ structure, is superconducting with a transition temperature (T/sub c/) of 4.55 K. The effect on T/sub c/ of replacing Y by other magnetic rare-earth metal has been investigated in the series Pd/sub 2/Y/sub 1-x/R/sub x/Sn (R = Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb). The depression in T/sub c/ is the largest with Gd substitution. The initial rate of depression of T/sub c/ shows deviation from the de Gennes function. The results of T/sub c/ measurements are analyzed in terms of Abrikosov-Gor'kov theory, taking into account the effects of crystalline electric fields acting on rare-earth ions. Values of the density of states times the exchange constant, (N(0)J/sub sf//sup 2/), are derived from these measurements.
Research Organization:
Materials Science and Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
OSTI ID:
5162754
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 32:7; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English