Evidence for unconventional strong-coupling superconductivity in PrOs4Sb12: an Sb nuclear quadrupole resonance study

We report Sb-NQR results which evidence a heavy-fermion (HF) behavior and an unconventional superconducting (SC) property in Pr(Os4Sb12 with T(c)=1.85 K. The temperature (T) dependence of nuclear-spin-lattice-relaxation rate, 1/T(1), and NQR frequency unravel a low-lying crystal-electric-field splitting below T0 approximately 10 K, associated with Pr3+(4f(2))-derived ground state. In the SC state, 1/T(1) shows neither a coherence peak just below T(c) K nor a T3-like power-law behavior observed for anisotropic HF superconductors with the line-node gap. The isotropic energy gap with its size Delta/k(B)=4.8 K seems to open up across T(c) below T(*) approximately 2.3 K. It is surprising that Pr(Os4Sb12 looks like an isotropic HF superconductor-it may indeed argue for Cooper pairing via quadrupolar fluctuations.     

Charge-density-wave transitions in the local-moment magnet Er5Ir4Si10

We report the observation of a new type of charge-density wave (CDW) in the large magnetic-moment rare-earth intermetallic compound, Er5Ir4Si10, which then orders magnetically at low temperatures. Single crystal x-ray diffraction shows the development of a 1D incommensurate CDW at 155 K, which then locks into a purely commensurate state below 55 K. The well-localized Er3+ moments are antiferromagnetically ordered below 2.8 K. We observe very sharp anomalies in the specific heat at 145 and 2.8 K, signifying the bulk nature of these transitions. Our data suggest the coexistence of strongly coupled CDW with local-moment antiferromagnetism in Er5Ir4Si10.     

Valence instability of Pr impurities in ZrIr2 and ZrOs2

This paper describes a search for valence instabilities of Pr impurities in ZrMe₂ with Me=Os, Ir and Ru. Pr impurities go into solution in the 2% concentration range in ZrIr₂ and ZrOs₂ but not in ZrRu₂. Susceptibility measurements indicate a nonmagnetic groundstate of Pr in both ZrIr₂ and ZrOs₂. The effective moment in ZrIr₂ is slightly below the trivalent value in ZrIr₂ while in ZrOs₂ the susceptibility is far below the trivalent value between helium and room temperatures. The resistivity increments of the alloys are very large and show very unusual temperature dependence, even for stable rare-earth (RE) impurities in ZrIr₂, where one observes strong deviations from the Matthiessen's rule at low temperatures. The depression of the superconducting transition temperature of ZrIr₂ and ZrOs₂ by Pr impurities is about 0.5 K/at%.     

Strong magnetic instability in correlated metallic Bi(2)Ir(2)O(7)

We report an experimental/theoretical study of single-crystal Bi(2)Ir(2)O(7) that possesses a metallic state with strongly exchange-enhanced paramagnetism. The ground state of Bi(2)Ir(2)O(7) is characterized by the following features: (1) a divergent low-temperature magnetic susceptibility that indicates no long-range order down to 50?mK; (2) strongly field-dependent coefficients of the low-temperature T and T(3) terms of the specific heat; (3) a conspicuously large Wilson ratio R(W)?≈?53.5; and (4) unusual temperature and field dependences of the Hall resistivity that abruptly change below 80?K, without any clear correlation with the magnetic behavior. All these unconventional properties suggest the existence of an exotic ground state in Bi(2)Ir(2)O(7).     

Pr2(Fe0.8Co0.2)14B磁结构的中子衍射研究

本文报道用中子衍射测定的含硼稀土过渡族金属间化合物Pr₂(Fe_0.8Co_0.2)₁₄B的晶体结构与磁结构。将中子三轴谱仪用作二轴粉末衍射仪,在室温测该化合物粉末样品的中子衍射强度,用轮廓精化法弥合衍射数据。该化合物属Nd₂Fe₁₄B类四方结构,α=8.8110?,c=12.2307?。设Pr,Fe和Co原子磁矩间为铁磁耦合,同一晶位的Fe,Co原子磁矩相等,存在沿c轴的易磁化 关键词：     

Nonmagnetic ground states and phase transitions in the caged compounds PrT2Zn20 (T = Ru, Rh and Ir)

We performed electrical resistivity ρ, magnetic susceptibility χ, specific heat C and electron diffraction measurements on single-crystalline samples of PrT2Zn20 (T = Ru, Rh and Ir). The three compounds show the Van Vleck paramagnetic behavior, indicating the nonmagnetic crystalline electric field (CEF) ground states. A Schottky-type peak appears at around 14 K, irrespective of the T element, which can be moderately reproduced by a doublet–triplet model. For T = Ru, a structural transition occurs at Ts = 138 K, below which no phase transition appears down to 0.04 K. On the other hand, for T = Ir, antiferroquadrupole (AFQ) ordering arising from the nonmagnetic Γ3 doublet takes place at TQ = 0.11 K. For T = Rh, despite a structural transition between 170 and 470 K, the CEF ground state is still the non-Kramers Γ3 doublet. However, no phase transition due to the Γ3 doublet was observed even down to 0.1 K.     

Transport,magnetic and thermodynamic properties of REPd2Ga3, RE = Pr,Nd, Sm

We present various investigations on the transport, magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the new ternary compounds REPd₂Ga₃ with RE = Pr, Nd, Sm. While PrPd₂Ga₃ does not show long-range magnetic order down to about 0.3 K, both NdPd₂Ga₃ and SmPd₂Ga₃ order magnetically. The latter exhibits a ferromagnetic ground state with weak ordered moments below T _c = 16.9 K and the former orders antiferromagnetically below T _N = 6.5 K with ordered Nd moments of 1.99(4) μ_B at saturation in the basal plane oriented perpendicular to the propagation vector k = [1/2, 0, 0]. The possibility of a Kondo type interaction in PrPd₂Ga₃ is discussed.     

Unconventional anomalous Hall effect enhanced by a noncoplanar spin texture in the frustrated Kondo lattice Pr2Ir2O7

We have investigated the Hall effect in the geometrically frustrated Kondo lattice Pr2Ir2O7. In its spin-liquid-like paramagnetic regime, the Hall resistivity rho(xy) is found to increase logarithmically on cooling. Moreover, in this low temperature region, the field dependence of the Hall conductivity sigma(xy) shows a large enhancement up to 30 Omega(-1) cm(-1) as well as a nonmonotonic change with the magnetization. Our results are far different from the anomalous Hall effect due to the spin-orbit coupling observed in ordinary magnetic conductors. We discuss the possible spin-chirality effect in the Ir 5d conduction band due to the noncoplanar texture of Pr<111> Ising-like moments.     

The low temperature electric quadrupole orientation of184Ir and185Ir in rhenium

The half-lives of¹⁸⁴Ir,¹⁸⁵Ir and¹⁸⁶Ir have been determined to be 3.14(2) h, 14.4(1) h and 16.64(3) h, respectively. The quadrupole frequenciesv _Q = e²qQ_s/h of¹⁸⁴Ir and¹⁸⁵Ir in rhenium single crystal have been determined to be Q_s(¹⁸⁴Ir) = + 2.0(3) b MHz and Q_s(¹⁸⁵Ir) = +2.0(3) b MHz. Adopting the value of –3.6(2)×10¹⁷ V·cm^–2 for the electric field gradient eq at T=0 K, the values of the ground-state spectroscopic quadrupole moments of these isotopes are determined to be Q_s(¹⁸⁴Ir)=+2.0(3) b and Q_s(¹⁸⁵Ir)=–2.5(3) b. The¹⁸⁵Ir moment is only consistent with the ground state Nilsson configuration , the¹⁸⁴Ir moment is consistent with K4 with a predominant K=4 component, in disagreement with K=0,1 found for¹⁸⁶Ir. Our analysis differs in detail from the recent nuclear orientation study by Hagn et al.[1].     

Magnetic properties of RE2Au compounds (RE = Pr,Nd, Gd,Tb, Dy,Ho, Er,Tm and Y)

Magnetic properties of nine RE₂Au compounds have been studied in fields of up to 19 kOe in the temperature range 4.2K–300K. It has been found that all compounds are paramagnetic at room temperature except Gd₂Au. The compounds with Pr, Nd, Ho, Er and Tm exhibit Curie-Weiss behaviour with paramagnetic moments in close agreement with those expected for the free RE³⁺ ion. The moment of gold was found to be zero. The compounds with Pr, Nd, Tb, Dy, Er and Tm are antiferromagnetic at low temperatures. It appears that Ho₂Au is ferromagnetically ordered below 4.5 K. No evidence for magnetic ordering was found for Y₂Au. The compound with Tb exhibits metamagnetic behaviour.     

Anisotropic hysteretic Hall effect and magnetic control of chiral domains in the chiral spin states of Pr2Ir2O7

We uncover a strong anisotropy in both the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) and the magnetoresistance of the chiral spin states of Pr(2)Ir(2)O(7). The AHE appearing below 1.5 K at a zero magnetic field shows hysteresis which is most pronounced for fields cycled along the [111] direction. This hysteresis is compatible with the field-induced growth of domains composed by the 3-in 1-out spin states which remain coexisting with the 2-in 2-out spin ice manifold once the field is removed. Only for fields applied along the [111] direction, we observe a large positive magnetoresistance and Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations above a metamagnetic critical field. These observations suggest the reconstruction of the electronic structure of the conduction electrons by the field-induced spin texture.     

Observation of modulated quadrupolar structures in PrPb3

Neutron diffraction measurements have been performed on the cubic compound PrPb(3) in a [001] magnetic field to examine the quadrupolar ordering. Antiferromagnetic components with q = (1/2 +/- delta 1/2 0), (1/2 1/2 +/- delta 0) (delta approximately 1/8) are observed below the transition temperature T(Q) (0.4 K at H = 0) whose amplitudes vary linear with H and vanish at zero field, providing the first evidence for a modulated quadrupolar phase. For H < 1 T, a nonsquare modulated state persists even below 100 mK suggesting quadrupole moments associated with a Tau(3) doublet ground state to be partially quenched by hybridization with conduction electrons.     

Magnetism in a UNi2/3Rh1/3Al single crystal

We report a magnetization, magnetostriction, electrical resistivity, specific heat and neutron scattering study of a UNi_2/3Rh_1/3Al single crystal, a solid solution of an antiferromagnet UNiAl and a ferromagnet URhAl. The huge uniaxial magnetic anisotropy confining the principal magnetic response to the c axis in the parent compounds persists also for the solid solution. The magnetization curve at 1.6 K has a pronounced S shape with an inflection at 12 T. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility exhibits a maximum around 10 K and is magnetic history dependent at lower temperatures where the resistivity increases linearly with decreasing temperature. The low-temperature ρ(T) anomaly is removed in a magnetic field applied along c, which yields a large negative magnetoresistance amounting to m46 zin 14T (at 2 K). The C/T values exhibit a minimum around 12 K and below 8 K they become nearly constant (about 250 mJ mol^?1 K^?2), which is strongly affected by magnetic fields. Neutron scattering data confirm a non-magnetic ground state of UNi_2/3Rh_1/3Al. The bulk properties at low temperatures are tentatively attributed to the freezing of U magnetic moments with antiferromagnetic correlations. The additional intensities detected on top of nuclear reflections in neutron diffraction in a magnetic field applied along c are found to be proportional to the field-induced magnetization, which reflects field-induced ferromagnetic coupling of U magnetic moments. This scenario is corroborated also by finding low-temperature magnetostriction data that also scale with the square of magnetization.     

A magnetic study of the ThCr2Si2-type RPd2Ge2 (R=Pr, Nd) compounds. Magnetic structure of PrPd2Ge2 from powder neutron diffraction

The magnetic properties of the PrPd₂Ge₂ and NdPd₂Ge₂ compounds have been investigated by magnetic measurements, specific heat measurements and neutron diffraction experiments. The PrPd₂Ge₂ compound orders antiferromagnetically below T_N=5.0(2) with an original modulated magnetic structure characterized by a magnetic cell three times larger than the chemical one by tripling of the c parameter. The palladium atom is non magnetic and the Pr moments are parallel to the c-axis with a value of ≈2.0 μ_B at 2 K. The specific heat measurements clearly detect a low temperature transition for the NdPd₂Ge₂ compound, interpreted as a Nd sublattice antiferromagnetic ordering below 1.3(2) K.     

Magnetism and superconductivity in Eu0.2Sr0.8(Fe0.86Co0.14)2As2 probed by 75As NMR

We report bulk superconductivity (SC) in Eu(0.2)Sr(0.8)(Fe(0.86)Co(0.14))(2)As(2) single crystals by means of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements with T(c) is approximately equal to 20 K and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of Eu(2+) moments at T(N) is approximately equal to 2.0 K in zero field. (75)As NMR experiments have been performed in the two external field directions (H is parallel to ab) and (H is parallel to c). (75)As-NMR spectra are analysed in terms of first-order quadrupolar interaction. Spin-lattice relaxation rates (1/T(1)) follow a T(3) law in the temperature range 4.2-15 K. There is no signature of a Hebel-Slichter coherence peak just below the SC transition, indicating a non-s-wave or s(±) type of superconductivity. In the temperature range 160-18 K 1/T(1)T follows the C/(T+θ) law reflecting 2D AFM spin fluctuations.     

Magnetic characteristics of PrCd single crystal

Magnetic measurements have been made along the [100], [110] and [111]-axes of PrCd single crystal in magnetic fields up to 70 kOe in the temperature range from 4.2 to 300 K. PrCd shows metamagnetism below T_t = 25 K in which two critical fields are observed in the magnetization processes along the [110] and [111]-axes and a critical field along the [100]-axis. The metamagnetic behaviour is interpreted by a noncollinear antiferromagnetic model with the Pr moments of ～ 2μ_B directed to the 〈111〉-axes.     

Physical properties of nitrogenated RFe11Ti intermetallic compounds (R=Ce, Pr and Nd) with ThMn12-type structure

Iron-rich ternary intermetallics RFe₁₁Ti (R=Ce, Pr and Nd) with a ThMn₁₂-type structure and their nitrides RFe₁₁TiN_x (x≈1.5) were carefully prepared. After characterizing them by metallographic and microscopic analyses, we studied structural and magnetic properties of the mother compounds and their nitrides. The lattice expansion due to nitrogenation is mainly along the c-axis for the Pr and Nd systems, while that is mainly along the a-axis for the Y system. The lattice expansion of the Ce system is isotropic but the volume expansion is the largest, indicating that the Ce-4f electron state dramatically changes upon nitrogen uptake. The Curie temperature, T_C, increases by 200 K reaching T_C≈720 K for the Pr and Nd system. The saturation magnetization, M_S, increases ≈ 10% by nitrogenation and reaches 1.8–1.9 T at 4.2 K and 1.5 T at 300 K for Pr and Nd systems. The anisotropy field, υ₀H_A is estimated to be more than 20 T at 4.2 K and 7 T at 300 K. The improvement of magnetic properties upon nitrogenation is briefly discussed in terms of the calculated band structure. The results obtained at 300 K indicate that the Pr and Nd nitrides are promising as permanent magnetic application.     

Possible observation of the quadrupolar Kondo effect in dilute quadrupolar system Pr(x)La(1-x)Pb3 for x <or= 0.05

We have studied non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior in Pr(x)La(1-x)Pb3 with Gamma3 quadrupolar moments in the crystalline-electric-field ground state. The specific heat C/T shows NFL behavior in the very dilute region for x 相似文献   

NMR evidence for triple-q multipole structure in NpO2

In order to elucidate the nature of the exotic ordered phase of NpO2 below T(0)=26 K, we have initiated the first 17O-NMR measurements on this system. From the 17O-NMR spectrum, the occurrence of two inequivalent oxygen sites has been confirmed below T0. It has also been shown that the characteristic features of the hyperfine interaction at the oxygen sites are well explained by invoking a hyperfine interaction with field-induced antiferromagnetic moments which appear as a result of the triple-q antiferroquadrupolar order. The NMR findings strongly support the occurrence of the longitudinal triple-q multipole structure in NpO2.     

Electric quadrupole orientation of iridium isotopes in rhenium

The quadrupole frequenciese ² qQ/h, for^{186, 188–190}Ir in a Re single crystal have been determined by nuclear orientation at temperatures down to 2 mK. Using a modeldependent value of +1.0 b for the quadrupole moment of the ground state of¹⁸⁹Ir, the electric field gradient of IrRe at 0 K is found to be–3.6×10¹⁷ V·cm^–2. The value is consistent with systematics proposed by Raghavan et al. Using this EFG, quadrupole moments are deduced for^{186, 188, 190}Ir.