Quantum critical behavior in the heavy Fermion single crystal Ce(Ni$_{0.935}$Pd$_{0.065}$)$_2$Ge$_2$

Abstract

We have performed magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, resistivity, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on a single crystal of the heavy Fermion compound Ce(Ni$_{0.935}$Pd$_{0.065}$)$_2$Ge$_2$, which is believed to be close to a quantum critical point (QCP) at T = 0. At lowest temperature(1.8-3.5 K), the magnetic susceptibility behaves as $χ(T)-χ(0)$ $\propto$ $T^{-1/6}$ with $χ(0) = 0.032 \times 10^{-6}$ m$^3$/mole (0.0025 emu/mole). For $T<$ 1 K, the specific heat can be fit to the formula $ΔC/T = γ_0 - T^{1/2}$ with $γ_0$ of order 700 mJ/mole-K$^2$. The resistivity behaves as $ρ= ρ_0 + AT^{3/2}$ for temperatures below 2 K. This low temperature behavior for $γ(T)$ and $ρ(T)$ is in accord with the SCR theory of Moriya and Takimoto\cite{Moriya}. The inelastic neutron scattering spectra show a broad peak near 1.5 meV that appears to be independent of $Q$; we interpret this as Kondo scattering with $T_K =$ 17 K. In addition, the scattering is enhanced near $Q$=(1/2, 1/2, 0) with maximum scattering at $ΔE$ = 0.45 meV; we interpret this as scattering from antiferromagnetic fluctuations near the antiferromagnetic QCP.

to be published in J. Phys: Conference Series