Evidence for a coherence gap in Ce sub 3 Bi sub 4 Pt sub 3

Conference · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6709816

Hundley, M F; Canfield, P C; Thompson, J.D. Fisk, Z. ^[1]; Lawrence, J M ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
2. California Univ., Irvine, CA (USA)

In this paper we examine the physical properties of the f-electron system Ce{sub 3}Bi{sub 4}Pt{sub 3}. In the majority of cases f-moment compounds are metallic, and, depending upon the relative strength of competing magnetic interactions, have a superconducting, paramagnetic, or antiferromagnetic ground state. In rare instances f-electron compounds have a narrow-gapped insulating ground state instead. This gap is thought to result from hybridization between conduction and f electrons. We have measured the magnetic susceptibility, low-temperature specific heat, resistivity, Hall effect, and thermoelectric power of Ce{sub 3}Bi{sub 4}Pt{sub 3} and find that this material is non-metallic at all temperatures. Isostructural lanthanum substitution for cerium suppresses the gap and produces transport and thermodynamic behavior that is characteristic of a relatively heavy Kondo impurity system. Further, the energy scale at which coherence develops is roughly equal to the energy gap in this compound. This suggests that the gap in Ce{sub 3}Bi{sub 4}Pt{sub 3} appears to stem from the same requirements of lattice periodicity necessary for coherence to manifest itself in metallic systems. Hence, there is strong evidence that the insulating behavior displayed by Ce{sub 3}Bi{sub 4}Pt{sub 3} results form the presence of a Kondo coherence-induced gap. 15 refs., 4 figs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/MA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6709816
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-90-2362; CONF-900751--1; ON: DE90014925
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
640302 -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALLOYS
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
CERIUM COMPOUNDS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY LEVELS
F STATES
GROUND STATES
HYBRIDIZATION
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM COMPOUNDS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
SPECIFIC HEAT
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS