Magnetic dynamics in an electron-doped YbB<Subscript>12</Subscript> condo insulator

Neutron spectroscopy results are presented for electron-doped YbB₁₂-based systems. Electrondoping effects were obtained through the partial substitution of Yb for four-valence Zr, and through the introduction of a small amount of carbon in the boron sublattice of a YbB₁₂ condo insulator. The different character of the original YbB₁₂ gap-type magnetic-excitation-spectrum changes was observed.     

Yb-Based Kondo Lattices: Insight from 170Yb Mössbauer, Positive Muon and γ–γ Perturbed Angular Correlations Spectroscopies

The usefulness of local hyperfine techniques in the investigation of the physical properties of Kondo lattices is illustrated through three examples. First, we show how Mössbauer spectroscopy on ¹⁷⁰Yb down to very low temperature (0.025 K) provides evidence for the existence of an incommensurate modulated magnetic structure close to T=0 in YbPtAl; a modulated structure at T=0 is in principle forbidden for Kramers ions, but it is made possible in YbPtAl due to the presence of the Kondo coupling. Second, we present a μSR study of the Kondo insulator YbB₁₂, and we evidence the persistence of fluctuations of very small correlated Yb moments close to T=0. Third, we report on a study by Perturbed Angular Correlation spectroscopy on the isotope ¹⁷²Yb of the Kondo lattice Yb₂Co₃Ga₉, which is characterised by a high Kondo temperature (T ₀?260 K). Our aim was to compare, on a large temperature range, the thermal variations of the 4f quadrupole moment and of the magnetic susceptibility, to check whether the scaling property predicted by theory could be observed.     

On the nature of the energy gap in ytterbium dodecaboride YbB12

The YbB₁₂ Kondo insulator was studied by EPR. The energy spectrum of YbB₁₂ was established to have a gap of width 2Δ≈12 meV. The experimental data are interpreted in terms of the excitonic-dielectric model. The temperature behavior of the gap was determined; it was found that Δ(T)=72 K at absolute zero and vanishes at ～115 K.     

ESR of Yb3+ ions in a single crystal of the fluctuating-valence compound YbB12

The temperature and angular dependences of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of Yb³⁺ ions in a single crystal of fluctuating-valence compound YbB₁₂ were studied. The existence of Yb?Yb ion pairs was observed in a cubic-symmetry crystal. The ions forming the pairs are coupled by the isotropic exchange but interact also with the other pairs by the dipole and exchange coupling. The occurrence of a slight anisotropy in a cubic semiconductor may be the result of a spontaneous break of symmetry specific for the ground state of the Kondo dielectric. A strong temperature dependence of the amplitude of the ESR signals is found at 1.6–4.2 K and interpreted as a result of the capture of electrons by Yb³⁺ ions from electron traps with a binding energy of 18 K. ESR spectra of Yb³⁺ single ions in the Γ₆ state were observed also. The decrease of temperature from 4.2 to 1.6 K indicates a tendency to the ferromagnetic ordering of Yb?Yb pairs.     

Effect of defects in the rare-earth sublattice of the Kondo insulator YbB<Subscript>12</Subscript> on its spectral characteristics and magnetic susceptibility

The results of measuring the static and dynamic magnetic susceptibilities of several series of samples, which are based on the YbB₁₂ Kondo insulator and are substituted in the rare-earth sublattice, are analyzed. Substitution is performed by nonmagnetic isoelectronic Lu ions; magnetic isoelectronic Tm ions; and nonisoelectronic nonmagnetic Y, Sc, and Zr ions. The static susceptibility is measured by a SQUID magnetometer in weak fields, and the dynamic susceptibility is determined from inelastic neutron scattering data. The magnetic properties are simulated using the spectral function found from neutron experimental data. A one-to-one correspondence is established between the influence of an impurity on the initial neutron spectrum and the temperature dependence of the static susceptibility. The results obtained allow one to analyze the relation between the magnetic properties and the electronic structure of the compounds of the given class.     

An EPR study of the temperature dependence of the energy gap in ytterbium dodecaboride

An EPR study of ytterbium dodecaboride (YbB₁₂) showed the presence of an energy gap with a width of 2Δ=12 meV in the energy spectrum of this Kondo insulator. The temperature dependence of the energy gap was determined by interpreting the experimental data within the framework of the exciton dielectric model: Δ(T)=72 K at an absolute zero and Δ(T)=0 at ～115 K. The temperature dependence of the EPR line-width exhibits a feature at 13–15 K, which is indicative of a finite density of states inside the gap. This can be related to the presence of impurity states or bound polaron excitations in the electron spectrum of YbB₁₂.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance in Kondo insulators

This review is devoted to the application of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in the study of fluctuating-valence materials, which are characterized by a narrow gap in the electron energy spectrum (Kondo insulators or Kondo semiconductors). The authors’ papers on studying classical objects of this field of solid-state physics, SmB₆ and YbB₁₂, are considered as an illustration of the potentiality of the EPR method. Temperature dependences of the gap width in these materials were obtained, the static and dynamic Jahn-Teller effects on Sm³⁺ ions in SmB₆ were detected, and the formation of Yb³⁺ ion pairs and the spontaneous breaking of cubic symmetry in YbB₁₂ were observed. The results obtained indicate that preference should be given to the exciton-polaron model developed by Kikoin et al. for the ground state of Kondo insulators.     

Defect-induced magnetic fluctuations in YbB12

We present the results of nuclear spin–lattice relaxation rate (1/T₁) measurements in a typical Kondo insulator YbB₁₂ for ^10,11B and ¹⁷¹Yb nuclei. Above 20 K, 1/T₁ at the B sites shows thermally activated temperature dependence with a gap of about 100 K. However, it shows anomalous enhancement below 15 K, which is partially suppressed by magnetic field up to 16 T. No such anomaly was observed at the Yb sites. The ratio of 1/T₁ for ¹¹B and ¹⁰B nuclei indicates that the anomaly below 15 K is caused by dilute magnetic moments assisted by nuclear spin diffusion. The origin and the nature of the low temperature magnetic fluctuations are discussed.     

On the magnetism of Ln<Subscript>2/3</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> (Ln = lanthanide)

The magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the complete Ln_2/3Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂ series were investigated. Here Ln stands for the lanthanides La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb. All the samples investigated crystallize in the space group Im[`3]Im\bar{3} with lattice constants that follow the lanthanide contraction. The lattice constant of the Ce compound reveals the presence of Ce⁴⁺ leading to the composition Ce_1/2Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂. From magnetic susceptibility and electron-spin resonance experiments it can be concluded that the copper ions always carry a spin S = 1/2 and order antiferromagnetically close to 25 K. The Curie-Weiss temperatures can approximately be calculated assuming a two-sublattice model corresponding to the copper and lanthanide ions, respectively. It seems that the magnetic moments of the heavy rare earths are weakly coupled to the copper spins, while for the light lanthanides no such coupling was found. The 4f moments remain paramagnetic down to the lowest temperatures, with the exception of the Tm compound, which indicates enhanced Van-Vleck magnetism due to a non-magnetic singlet ground state of the crystal-field split 4f manifold. From specific-heat measurements we accurately determined the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature and obtained information on the crystal-field states of the rare-earth ions.     

Mössbauer study of 170Yb in some metals and metal-like compounds. Isomer shift measurements and intermediate valence states of ytterbium

We present here a Mössbauer effect study of the isomer shift and the magnetic behaviour of ¹⁷⁰Yb in compounds with metallic character where the ytterbium valence state ranges from a practically divalent and diamagnetic state (Yb in Ag, Tm and Yb) to a trivalent magnetic state (Yb in Au). Intermediate valence states, all of them probably non-magnetic, have been observed in YbAl₂, TmAl₂, YbAl₃ and Al as well as in the borides YbB₄, YbB₁₂ and TmB₁₂.In Tm metal, in addition to the quadrupole interaction, a weak magnetic hyperfine interaction is visible on ¹⁷⁰Yb below T_N.     

Transport and magnetic properties of the compounds YbNi4In and YbNiIn4 with valence-unstable Yb

The electrical resistance, thermal emf, and magnetic susceptibility of the compounds YbNi₄In and YbNiIn₄, with valence-unstable Yb, are measured at temperatures of 4.2–300 K. The valence state of Yb is identified by measuring the x-ray L _III absorption spectra at T=300 K. YbNi₄In is shown to have a Kondo magnetic lattice and exhibit crystal-field effects. The preferred scheme is splitting of the 4f level of Yb³⁺ with doublet formation in the ground and first excited states. In the case of YbNiIn₄, a valence-unstable state of Yb is formed that makes no significant additional contributions to the transport coefficients. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1918–1921 (November 1999)     

Paramagnetic-ferromagnetic and insulator-metal phase transitions in La<Subscript>0.88</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>2.95</Subscript>

We present the results a study of structure by neutron diffraction and data on the magnetic properties (linear and nonlinear (second and third order) susceptibilities) of polycrystalline La_0.88MnO_2.95. This compound exhibits an insulator-metal (IM) phase transition at T _IM ≈ 253 K (above the Curie temperature, T _C ≈ 244 K) and reveals colossal magnetoresistance. The crystal structure is found to be rhombohedral, and the space group is R3c. Analysis of magnetic properties shows that at T* ≈ 258 K > T _C , isolated paramagnetic clusters occur in the paramagnetic matrix; their concentration increases upon cooling. We observed no noticeable differences between the temperature evolution of the clustered state of this manganite with its insulator-metal transition and in the insulator La_0.88MnO_2.91. Possible scenarios of the paramagnet-ferromagnet and I-M transitions in a self-organized clustered structure are discussed.     

Asymmetric Anderson model and spin excitations in the Kondo insulator YbB<Subscript>12</Subscript>

A cluster problem is analyzed as an example demonstrating that the observed three-mode behavior of spin-triplet excitations in YbB₁₂ can be described by the asymmetric Anderson model with insulating singlet ground state. In the case of an infinite system, it is argued that the behavior of the f subsystem can be analyzed by using an effective Hamiltonian ? _J with direct antiferromagnetic f-f exchange interaction. The spin excitation spectrum is shown to have a minimum at the antiferromagnetic vector, as observed experimentally. A distinctive feature of the analysis is the use of singlet and triplet basis operators.     

Multiple magnetic transitions in single crystals of Ce<Subscript>12</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>57.5</Subscript>As<Subscript>41</Subscript> and La<Subscript>12</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>57.5</Subscript>As<Subscript>41</Subscript>

Measurements of magnetic and transport properties were performed on needle-shaped single crystals of Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁ and La₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁. The availability of a complete set of data enabled a side-by-side comparison between these two rare earth compounds. Both compounds exhibited multiple magnetic orders within 2–300 K and metamagnetic transitions at various fields. Ferromagnetic transitions with Curie temperatures of 100 and 125 K were found for Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁ and La₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁, respectively, followed by antiferromagnetic type spin reorientations near Curie temperatures. The magnetic properties underwent complex evolution in the magnetic field for both compounds. An antiferromagnetic phase transition at about 60 K and 0.2 T was observed merely for Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁. The field-induced magnetic phase transition occurred from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic structure. A strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy was evident from magnetization measurements of Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁. A temperature-field phase diagram was present for these two rare earth systems. In addition, a logarithmic temperature dependence of electrical resistivity was observed in the two compounds within a large temperature range of 150–300 K, which is rarely found in 3D-based compounds. It may be related to Kondo scattering described by independent localized Fe 3d moments interacting with conduction electrons.     

On the behaviour of the new Kondo lattice CeCuAl3

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, thermopower, specific heat, susceptibility and magnetization of CeCuAl₃ are presented. CeCuAl₃ behaves as a Kondo lattice system with antiferromagnetic ground state properties (T _N 2.8 K). The valency of Ce in this tetragonal compound is close to 3 and the overall crystal field splitting found from our results is about 150 K. The Kondo temperatureT _K in the crystal field ground state, estimated from the magnetic susceptibility and the specific heat, is of the order of 8 K.     

Pressure-induced magnetic phase transitions in Yb Kondo lattice systems

In this paper we give a brief overview of the effect of pressure on the magnetic and electronic properties of Yb Kondo lattices using the ¹⁷⁰Yb Mössbauer technique, electrical resistance and X-ray diffraction. The selected materials were either nonmagnetic (YbCu₂Si₂ and Yb₂Ni₂Al) or ferromagnetic (YbNiSn). We show that pressure induces a first order transition to a magnetic ground state in both YbCu₂Si₂ and Yb₂Ni₂Al. In the former compound, the transition is accompanied by a valence change towards Yb³⁺ state. The behavior of both YbCu₂Si₂ and Yb₂Ni₂Al can be understood as resulting from a pressure enhancement of the RKKY interaction which finally dominates the Kondo effect. We demonstrate that the ground state properties of YbNiSn are governed by a volume dependent competition between anisotropic exchange interactions and crystal field anisotropy rather than by a direct competition between Kondo and RKKY interactions.     

Phase transition in YbAl<Subscript>3</Subscript>C<Subscript>3</Subscript>

¹⁷⁰Yb M?ssbauer spectroscopy, temperature dependent X-ray, magnetisation and specific heat data are presented in the hexagonal intermetallic YbAl₃C₃, in order to shed light on the isostructural transition occurring near 80 K and to investigate the electronic state of the Yb ion above and below the transition. In the low temperature phase, we find that there occurs an atomic rearrangement in the hexagonal unit cell, leading to a strong symmetry lowering at the Yb site. We show that no magnetic ordering of the Yb³⁺ moments occurs down to 0.04 K, and we discuss this finding in terms of 4f-conduction electron hybridisation and geometric frustration.     

Low temperature properties of the Kondo insulator FeSi

In this paper we study the low temperature (T) properties of the Kondo insulator FeSi within the X-boson approach. We show that the ground state of the FeSi is metallic and highly correlated with a large effective mass; the low temperature contributions to the specific heat and the resistivity are of the Fermi-liquid type. The low temperature properties are governed by a reentrant transition into a metallic state, that occurs when the chemical potential crosses the gap and enters the conduction band, generating a metallic ground state. The movement of the chemical potential is due to the strong correlations present in the system. We consider the low temperature regime of the Kondo insulator FeSi, where the hybridization gap is completely open. In this situation we identify the two characteristic temperatures: the coherence temperature T₀ and the Kondo temperature T_KL. In the range T < T₀, we identify a regime characterized by the formation of coherent states and Fermi-liquid behavior of the low temperature properties; in the range T_KL > T > T₀, we identify a regime characterized by an activation energy. Within the X-boson approach we study those low temperature regimes although we do not try to adjust parameters to recover the experimental energy scales.     

Study of gamma/X‐ray interaction in Kondo insulators

We have studied the gamma/X‐ray interaction parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient, mean free path (λ), half value layer, 10th value layer, energy‐absorption buildup factors, and variation of electrical conductivity with the energy of gamma/X‐ray between 1 keV and 100 GeV for Kondo insulators such as FeSi, Ce₃Bi₄Pt₃, SmB₆, YbB₁₂, CeNiSn, CeRhSb, CeRuSn, and CeFeP. The variation of photon interaction parameters with incident energy of gamma/X‐ray is graphically represented. We have also identified the X‐ray absorption edges for the Kondo insulators. This identified X‐ray absorption edges are useful in the characterizing of Kondo insulators such as FeSi, Ce₃Bi₄Pt₃, SmB₆, YbB₁₂, CeNiSn, CeRhSb, CeRuSn, and CeFeP. Hence, these data are also useful in the material science. This type of data for Kondo insulators is not available in literature. Hence, this work is first of its kind, and it is useful in various fields of nuclear physics.