First-order valence phase transition in cubic Yb/sub x/In/sub 1-x/Cu/sub 2/

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.33.617· OSTI ID:6462271

Felner, I; Nowik, I

Magnetic-susceptibility measurement of a new Laves-phase cubic system, Yb/sub x/In/sub 1-x/Cu/sub 2/ (0.30< or =x< or =0.65), exhibit very sharp Yb/sup 2 +/..-->..Yb/sup 3 +/ valence phase transitions at temperatures T/sub v/ = 40--80 K. A simple valence-fluctuation model predicts first-order phase transitions and agrees with the experimental observations. For Yb/sub 0.4/In/sub 0.6/Cu/sub 2/ the theoretical fit shows that below T/sub v/ = 46 K, the GAMMA/sub 6/ state of Yb/sup 3 +/ is 190 K above Yb/sup 2 +/, changing abruptly to -210 K above T/sub v/. The present compounds exhibit the sharpest temperature-dependent valence phase transition in any metallic system.

• Research Organization: Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
• OSTI ID: 6462271
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 33:1; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals &amp; Alloys-- Physical Properties
ALLOYS
COPPER ALLOYS
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CUBIC LATTICES
FLUCTUATIONS
INDIUM ALLOYS
LAVES PHASES
LOW TEMPERATURE
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
MAGNETOMETERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
ULTRALOW TEMPERATURE
VALENCE
VARIATIONS
VERY LOW TEMPERATURE
VIBRATING SAMPLE MAGNETOMETERS
YTTERBIUM ALLOYS