Kondo and crystal-field effects in the compound YbPtGa

The equiatomic ternary compound YbPtGa has been investigated by neutron diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and low-temperature heat capacity measurements. A profile refinement of neutron diffraction data reveals that YbPtGa crystallizes in the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure. A λ-type anomaly is observed in the heat capacity at 3.8 K, and a broad maximum in the susceptibility is seen at 4 K, suggesting magnetic ordering of the Yb moment. The temperature dependence of the magnetic scattering resistivity exhibits a behavior consistent with Kondo-type interactions in the presence of crystalline electric field effects