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Spin-fluctuation effects in CeSi/sub x/ alloys: High-field heat-capacity, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical resistivity studies, and a comment on TiBe/sub 2/

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

The low-temperature (1.5--20 K) heat capacity in zero and applied fields up to 9.8 T, the magnetization in a field of 1.8 T in the range 1.5--300 K, the low-field ac magnetic susceptibility (50 mK--10 K), and electrical resistivity (2.4--300 K) have been measured for CeSi/sub x/ (x = 1.83, 1.85, and 1.90) alloys. A contribution of the form T/sup 3/lnT to the heat capacity, predicted for spin-fluctuation compounds by the paramagnon theory, occurs for all three compounds. In CeSi/sub 1.83/ and CeSi/sub 1.85/ the deviation from T/sup 3/lnT behavior occurs below approximately 8 and 2.4 K, respectively, due to the onset of magnetic order at 5.5 and 1 K, respectively. The transition of the spin-fluctuation regime to a magnetically ordered state in these two alloys is reported for the first time. In CeSi/sub 1.83/ the entropy associated with magnetic ordering accounts for approximately 17% of the theoretically expected R ln2 entropy; the rest is presumably associated with the spin fluctuations. Spin fluctuations in CeSi/sub 1.90/ are not quenched in fields up to 7.5 T, but the data suggest that the quenching may be starting at 10 T. The heat capacity in applied fields develops a bump which is presumably due to the development of a magnetic moment induced by the field. A similar such bump in TiBe/sub 2/ may also occur. A gradual progression from paramagnetic spin or valence fluctuations to magnetically ordered Kondo regime takes place with decreasing silicon concentration. An analysis of these data indicate that the CeSi/sub x/ alloys are moderately heavy fermions with ..gamma.. values of 184.6--269.6 mJ/mol Ce K/sup 2/, T/sub s/ (spin fluctuation temperature) values of 28 and 29 K, and Stoner enhancements varying from 135 to 645.

Research Organization:
Ames Laboratory and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
OSTI ID:
6048544
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 36:1; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English