Possible observation of quadrupolar Kondo effect in Pr-based dilute quadrupolar compounds

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2007-03, Vol.310 (2), p.235-237
• Main Authors: Kawae, T., Nakaie, Y., Inagaki, Y., Hidaka, M., Tateiwa, N., Kitai, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: [formula omitted] doublet; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electronic conduction in metals and alloys; Electronic transport in condensed matter; Exact sciences and technology; formula omitted; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Non-Fermi-liquid; Physics; Quadrupolar Kondo effect; Scattering mechanisms and kondo effect; Valence fluctuation, kondo lattice, and heavy-fermion phenomena
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2006.10.510

We have studied the low-temperature properties of Pr x La 1 - x Pb 3 and Pr x La 1 - x lnAg 2 with the crystal-electric-field (CEF) ground state of a non-Kramers Γ 3 doublet. In Pr x La 1 - x Pb 3 , non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior has been observed for Pr concentrations x ≤ 0.05 in the specific heat C / T , susceptibility and electrical resistivity at low temperatures. Moreover, application of magnetic field raises C / T rapidly, which demonstrates the presence of the residual entropy at lower temperatures. In Pr x La 1 - x lnAg 2 , characteristic features have been seen up to x=0.8 in the susceptibility and specific heat below 15 K. These behaviors can be caused by the quadrupolar Kondo effect arising from the correlation between the dilute Γ 3 moments and the conduction electrons.