Noravee Kanchanavatee

Ferromagnetic quantum critical point in UCo 1 − x Fe x Ge

We have carried out a comprehensive study of the UCo1-xFexGe series across the entire range of compositions 0 <= x <= 1, and report the results of x-ray diffraction, magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity to uncover the T-x phase diagram. Substitution of Fe into UCoGe initially results in an increase in the Curie temperature and a rapid destruction of the superconductivity. Near x = 0.22, the ferromagnetic transition is suppressed to zero temperature at an apparent ferromagnetic itinerant electron quantum critical point, where the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and specific heat in this region reveal non-Fermi liquid behavior.

Chemical pressure tuning of URu2Si2 via isoelectronic substitution of Ru with Fe

We have used specific heat and neutron diffraction measurements on single crystals of URu2–xFexSi₂ for Fe concentrations x ≤ 0.7 to establish that chemical substitution of Ru with Fe acts as “chemical pressure” Pch as previously proposed by Kanchanavatee et al. [Phys. Rev. B 84, 245122 (2011)] based on bulk measurements on polycrystalline samples. Neutron diffraction reveals a sharp increase of the uranium magnetic moment at x = 0.1, reminiscent of the behavior at the “hidden order” to large moment antiferromagnetic (LMAFM) phase transition observed at a pressure Px ≈ 0.5-0.7 GPa in URu₂Si₂. Using the unit cell volume determined from our measurements and an isothermal compressibility κT = 5.2×10⁻³ GPa⁻¹ for URu₂Si₂, we determine the chemical pressure Pch in URu2-xFexSi₂ as a function of x. The resulting temperature T-chemical pressure Pch phase diagram for URu2-xFexSi₂ is in agreement with the established temperature T-external pressure P phase diagram of URu₂Si₂.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of pseudospin fluctuations in URu2Si2

Here, we report 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance measurements in single crystals and aligned powders of URu2Si2 in the hidden order and paramagnetic phases. The spin-lattice relaxation data reveal evidence of pseudospin fluctuations of U moments in the paramagnetic phase. We find evidence for partial suppression of the density of states below 30 K and analyze the data in terms of a two-component spin-fermion model. We propose that this behavior is a realization of a pseudogap between the hidden-order transition THO and 30 K. This behavior is then compared to other materials that demonstrate precursor fluctuations in a pseudogap regime above a ground state with long-range order.

Enhancement of the hidden order/large moment antiferromagnetic transition temperature in the URu2−xOsxSi2 system

Electrical resistivity, specific heat, and magnetization measurements on the URuOsSi system suggest a phase transition from the ‘hidden order’ phase to another unidentified phase that is likely to be a large moment antiferromagnetic phase. It is noteworthy that the hidden order/large moment antiferromagnetic phase boundary is enhanced from 17.5 K at = 0 to 50 K at = 1. However, as increases, the gap opening in the Fermi surface due to the hidden order phase transition, deduced from electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements, decreases. This study reveals that both Fe and Os isoelectronic substitutions for Ru in URuSi yield an enhancement of . In contrast to the URuFeSi system, where the unit cell volume decreases with , in the URuOsSi system, the unit cell volume increases with . Thus the enhancement of the hidden order/large moment antiferromagnetic transition temperature cannot be solely due to an increase in chemical pressure.

Weak hybridization and isolated localized magnetic moments in the compounds CeT2Cd20 (T = Ni, Pd)

We report the physical properties of single crystals of the compounds CeT2Cd20 (T = Ni, Pd) that were grown in a molten Cd flux. Large separations of  ∼6.7-6.8 Å between Ce ions favor the localized magnetic moments that are observed in measurements of the magnetization. The strength of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida magnetic exchange interaction between the localized moments is severely limited by the large Ce-Ce separations and by weak hybridization between localized Ce 4 f and itinerant electron states. Measurements of electrical resistivity performed down to 0.138 K were unable to observe evidence for the emergence of magnetic order; however, magnetically-ordered ground states with very low transition temperatures are still expected in these compounds despite the isolated nature of the localized magnetic moments. Such a fragile magnetic order could be highly susceptible to tuning via applied pressure, but evidence for the emergence of magnetic order has not been observed so far in our measurements up to 2.5 GPa.

Phase diagram and thermal expansion measurements on the system URu2-xFexSi2

Significance The identity of the order parameter of the hidden-order (HO) phase in the heavy fermion compound URu2Si2 remains a long-standing mystery. The HO phase is intimately related to the large-moment antiferromagnetic (LMAFM) phase that is induced under pressure. Although these two phases presumably have distinct order parameters, their transport and thermodynamic properties are nearly indistinguishable. The measurements reported herein reveal that the HO and LMAFM phase transitions are manifested differently in the uniaxial thermal expansion coefficients and uniaxial pressure derivatives of the transition temperature. These results suggest that an itinerant effective model should include band states of different orbital and magnetic characters, if it is to describe the differing responses of the competing ordered phases to uniaxial pressure. Thermal expansion, electrical resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat measurements were performed on URu2−xFexSi2 single crystals for various values of Fe concentration x in both the hidden-order (HO) and large-moment antiferromagnetic (LMAFM) regions of the phase diagram. Our results show that the paramagnetic (PM) to HO and LMAFM phase transitions are manifested differently in the thermal expansion coefficient. The uniaxial pressure derivatives of the HO/LMAFM transition temperature T0 change dramatically when crossing from the HO to the LMAFM phase. The energy gap also changes consistently when crossing the phase boundary. In addition, for Fe concentrations at xc ≈ 0.1, we observe two features in the thermal expansion upon cooling, one that appears to be associated with the transition from the PM to the HO phase and another one at lower temperature that may be due to the transition from the HO to the LMAFM phase.

Distinct magnetic spectra in the hidden order and antiferromagnetic phases in URu2-xFexSi2

We use neutron scattering to compare the magnetic excitations in the hidden order (HO) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases in URu2-xFexSi2 as a function of Fe concentration. The magnetic excitation spectra change significantly between x = 0.05 and x = 0.10, following the enhancement of the AFM ordered moment, in good analogy to the behavior of the parent compound under applied pressure. Prominent lattice-commensurate low-energy excitations characteristic of the HO phase vanish in the AFM phase. The magnetic scattering is dominated by strong excitations along the Brillouin zone edges, underscoring the important role of electron hybridization to both HO and AFM phases, and the similarity of the underlying electronic structure. The stability of the AFM phase is correlated with enhanced local-itinerant electron hybridization.

Crossover between Fermi liquid and non-Fermi liquid behavior in the non-centrosymmetric compound Yb2Ni12P7

A crossover from a non-Fermi liquid to a Fermi liquid phase in Yb2Ni12P7 is observed by analyzing electrical resistivity ρ(T), magnetic susceptibility χ(T), specific heat C(T), and thermoelectric power S(T) measurements. The electronic contribution to specific heat, Ce(T), behaves as Ce(T)/T∼-ln(T) for 5 K<T<15 K, which is consistent with non-Fermi liquid behavior. Below T∼4 K, the upturn in Ce(T)/T begins to saturate, suggesting that the system crosses over into a Fermi-liquid ground state. This is consistent with robust ρ(T)-ρ0=AT2 behavior below T∼4 K, with the power-law exponent becoming sub-quadratic for T>4 K. A crossover between Fermi-liquid and non-Fermi liquid behavior suggests that Yb2Ni12P7 is in close proximity to a quantum critical point, in agreement with results from recent measurements of this compound under applied pressure.

Evolution of the Magnetic and Superconducting States in UCoGe With Fe and Ni Substitution

The very small number of known ferromagnetic superconductors places the study of such compounds at the frontier of superconductivity research. Recently, UCoGe has emerged as a new member of the class of materials exhibiting coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity (Curie temperature T Curie = 3 K; superconducting critical temperature T s = 0.8 K). This compound has generated much excitement, in part because it has been proposed that the superconductivity derives from spin triplet pairing mediated by ferromagnetic interactions. Therefore, a key question is how changes in the magnetic state of UCoGe affect the superconducting properties. We have carried out a comprehensive study of the UCo 1-xFe xGe and UCo 1-xNi xGe series of compounds across the entire range of composition 0 ≤ x ≤ 1. We report the results of x-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, and magnetization measurements to elucidate the magnetic and superconducting phase diagram of the U[Fe, Co, Ni]Ge system. Substitution of either Ni or Fe into UCoGe initially results in an increase in the Curie temperature. At higher dopant concentrations (x), the ferromagnetic state crosses over to paramagnetism in UCo 1-xFe xGe and antiferromagnetism in UCo 1-xNi xGe.

Electrodynamics of the antiferromagnetic phase in URu 2 Si 2

We present data on the optical conductivity of URu