Magnetic polaron and Fermi surface effects in the spin-flip scattering of EuB6

The spin-flip scattering (SFS) between conduction and 4f(7) Eu2+ (S-8(7/2)) electrons in the paramagnetic phase of EuB6 (Tgreater than or equal to2T(c)similar or equal to30 K) is studied by means of electron spin resonance (ESR) at three frequencies. The single Dysonian resonance observed in all cases suggests a metallic environment for the Eu2+ ions. The ESR at high field, Hsimilar or equal to12.05 kG (nusimilar or equal to33.9 GHz), has an anisotropic linewidth with cubic symmetry. The low-field, 1.46 kG (4.1 Ghz) and 3.35 kG (9.5 GHz), ESR linewidths are unexpectedly broader and have a smaller anisotropy than at the higher field. The unconventional narrowing and anisotropy of the linewidth at higher fields are indicative of a homogeneous resonance and microscopic evidence for a strong reduction in spin-flip scattering between the spins of Eu2+ and the states in the electron and hole pockets at the X points of the Brillouin zone by magnetic polarons.701

Perturbing the superconducting planes in CeCoIn5 by Sn substitution

In contrast to substitution on the Co or Ce site, Sn substitution has a remarkably strong effect on superconductivity in CeCoIn5-xSnx, with T-c -> 0 beyond only similar to 3.6% Sn. Instead of being randomly distributed on in-plane and out-of-plane In sites, extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements show the Sn atoms preferentially substitute within the Ce-In plane. This result highlights the importance of the In(1) site to impurity scattering and clearly demonstrates the two-dimensional nature of superconductivity in CeCoIn5.95

Cerium Heavy-Fermion Compounds Near Their T=0 Magnetic-Non-Magnetic Boundary.

Measurements of the temperature-dependent specific heat and thermal expansion coefficient near a T=0 magnetic-nonmagnetic boundary, accessed in CeRh2Si2 by application of pressure and in CeRh2-xRuxSi2 at ambient pressure by chemical substitution, emphasize the role of disorder in producing non-Fermi-liquid behavior. Interestingly, superconductivity also develops near this boundary in some crystallographically-ordered Ce-based heavy-fermion compounds. [CeRh2-xRuxSi2, specific heat, thermal expansion, susceptibility, non-Fermi-liquid]. © 1998, The Japan Society of High Pressure Science and Technology. All rights reserved

Evolution of the magnetic properties and magnetic structures along the RmMIn3m+2 (R = Ce, Nd, Gd, Tb; M = Rh, Ir; and m=1,2) series of intermetallic compounds

We discuss the evolution of the magnetic properties and magnetic structures along the series of intermetallic compounds RmMIn3m+2 (R=Ce, Nd, Gd, Tb; M=Rh, Ir; and m=1,2). The m=1,2 are, respectively, the single layer and bilayer tetragonal derivatives of their cubic RIn3 relatives. Using a mean field model including an isotropic first-neighbors Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida interaction (K) and the tetragonal crystalline electrical field (CEF), we demonstrated that, for realistic values of K and CEF parameters, one can qualitatively describe the direction of the ordered moments and the behavior of the ordering temperature for these series. The particular case, where the rare-earth ordered moments lie in the ab plane or are tilted from the c axis and T-N can be reduced by tuning the CEF parameters, revealed an interesting kind of frustration that may be relevant to the physical properties of complex classes of materials such as the RmMIn3m+2 (M=Rh, Ir, and Co; m=1,2) heavy-fermion superconductors. (C) 2006 American Institute of Physics.99

New surprises "down below": Recent successes in the synthesis of actinide materials

Recent discoveries of novel electronic states, including relatively high-temperature superconductivity, in the actinides point to exciting prospects for future discoveries at the bottom of the periodic table. A key ingredient in all of the successes discussed here is the role of high-quality synthesis in enabling advances. Results on PuCoGa5, NpPd5Al 2, and single crystal uranium are discussed

Heavy fermions

Although the heavy fermion problem is nearly twenty years old, progress is still being made, especially as experimental techniques and theoretical ideas developed for the cuprates are applied to the heavy fermion problem. Recent advances in heavy fermion physics have been made in four specific areas: superconductivity, Fermi surface measurements, marginal Fermi liquid behavior, and Kondo insulators. © 1996 Current Science Ltd