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New heavy-fermion system, NpBe/sub 13/, with a comparison to UBe/sub 13/ and PuBe/sub 13/

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)
We have prepared single crystals of NpBe/sub 13/, Np/sub 0.68/U/sub 0.32/Be/sub 13/, and PuBe/sub 13/ and measured their resistivity, susceptibility, and specific heat down to low temperatures. NpBe/sub 13/ has an itinerant-electron magnetic transition at 3.4 K, with a large temperature-dependent specific heat above this transition that is quite similar to that observed in the heavy-fermion superconductor UBe/sub 13/ and a ..gamma..(T = 0) of approximately 900 mJ/mole K/sup 2/. PuBe/sub 13/ may be described as a Kondo-type system, with certain inconsistencies. The data are compared to results for UBe/sub 13/ and are consistent with a narrow f band at the Fermi energy in UBe/sub 13/ moving lower in energy with the addition of f electrons in heavier actinide elements to create a Kondo resonance by PuBe/sub 13/.
Research Organization:
Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
OSTI ID:
6364026
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 30:3; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English