Superconductivity, Magnetism, and Atomic Rattling Phenomena in R_{3}Rh_{4}Ge_{13} (R=Y, Yb, Lu)

• Authors: A. Strydom
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

We give a first report of the physical properties of the pair of cubic intermetallic compounds R_{3}Rh_{4}Ge_{13}, with R being either Yb or Lu. The crystal structure can be described in terms of 3 atomic cages, and we reveal how certain thermal physical properties are inherent to this particular atomic layout. Close to room temperature, Yb_{3}Rh_{4}Ge_{13} displays strong paramagnetism originating from Yb^{3+} ions, but upon cooling though 100 K the magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity behave according to a thermally driven valence instability, and we classify Yb_{3}Rh_{4}Ge_{13} therefore as an intermediate valent f-electron system. Lu_{3}Rh_{4}Ge_{13} behaves in a diamagnetic manner throughout our accessible temperature range, - first with a weakly temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility below room temperature, and finally with a precipitous drop in the electrical resistivity to zero at 2.5 K when superconductivity sets in.

Keywords

EN

75.30.Mb; 75.40.Cx; 63.20.-e; 71.20.Eh

Discipline

• 71.20.Eh: Rare earth metals and alloys
• 75.40.Cx: Static properties (order parameter, static susceptibility, heat capacities, critical exponents, etc.)
• 75.30.Mb: Valence fluctuation, Kondo lattice, and heavy-fermion phenomena(see also 71.27.+a Strongly correlated electron systems, heavy fermions; for heavy-fermion superconductors, see 74.70.Tx)
• 63.20.-e: Phonons in crystal lattices(for phonons in superconductors, see 74.25.Kc; see also 43.35.Gk Phonons in crystal lattice, quantum acoustics—in Acoustics Appendix)

• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 126
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 318-321

Dates

published

2014-07

Contributors

author

A. Strydom

• Highly Correlated Matter Research Group, Physics Department, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa

References

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Identifiers

DOI

10.12693/APhysPolA.126.318