Prokofiev, A., Custers, J., Kriegisch, M., Laumann, S., Müller, M., Sassik, H., Svagera, R., Waas, M., Neumaier, K., Strydom, A. M., & Paschen, S. (2009). Crystal growth and composition-property relationship of Ce₃Pd₂₀Si₆ single crystals. Physical Review B, 80(235107). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.80.235107
E138-04 - Forschungsbereich Quantum Materials E138-03 - Forschungsbereich Functional and Magnetic Materials E138-50 - Services des Instituts
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Journal:
Physical Review B
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ISSN:
2469-9950
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Date (published):
2009
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Number of Pages:
8
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Publisher:
AMER PHYSICAL SOC
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Peer reviewed:
Yes
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Keywords:
Condensed Matter Physics; Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
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Abstract:
To elucidate the discrepancies in low-temperature data reported on the quantum critical heavy fermion compound Ce3Pd20Si6 and reveal the compound's intrinsic properties, single crystals of varying stoichiometry were grown by various techniques-from the melt and from high-temperature solutions using fluxes of various compositions. The resulting stoichiometry of the crystals as well as their physical properties show sizable dependence on the different growth techniques. The Ce content Ce varies by more than 3 at. % among all grown single crystals. We have revealed a systematic dependence of the residual resistance ratio, the lattice parameter, the lower phase-transition temperature TL, and the maximum in the temperature dependent electrical resistivity Tmax with Ce. This clarifies the sizable variation in the values of TL reported in the literature. We discuss the physical origin of the observed composition-property relationship in terms of a Kondo lattice picture. We predict that a modest pressure can suppress TL to zero and thus induce a quantum critical point.
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Research Areas:
Special and Engineering Materials: 50% Quantum Many-Body Systems: 50%