2025/10/31 by I. Čurlik, Čurlik, I., F. Akbar +7
Physics and Astronomy · Materials Science · #Rare-earth and actinide compounds #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Magnetic Properties of Alloys
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2511.00277
Within the family of cubic YbCu4X compounds (X = Ni, Au and Zn), we have investigated the YbCu5-xZnx (1≥ x ≥ 0.7) alloys by means of structural, magnetic, thermal and transport measurements. In the τ1- YbCu5-xZnx (cubic AuBe5 type, 0.7 ≤ x ≤ 1.5) structural phase, Yb ion is in its Yb3+ magnetic configuration. However, by increasing Zn content the unit cell grows faster than a reference computed as a Cu by Zn atoms substitution, which indicates a shift of Yb ions towards the larger Yb2+ configuration. The magnetic behavior confirms such tendency with a clear decrease of the saturation magnetization and effective moment between x=0.7 and x=1. The specific heat at low temperature shows a logarithmic dependence characteristic for a non-fermi-liquid behavior. The characteristic energies of all studied parameters, including magneto resistivity, show notably low values as an indication that these alloys are close to a quantum critical point, which is approached from the non-magnetic side as the Zn content decreases.