Recovery of the Fermi-liquid state in U_3Ni_3Sn_4 by pressure

Abstract

Measurements of the resistivity of single-crystalline U_3Ni_3Sn_4 under hydrostatic pressure up to 1.8 GPa are reported. We show that the temperature T_FL, below which the resistivity obeys the Fermi-liquid expression rho ~ T^2, increases with pressure as T_FL ~ (p-p_c)^1/2. The analysis of the data within the magnetotransport theory of Rosch lends strong support for an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point in U_3Ni_3Sn_4 at a negative critical pressure p_c of -0.04+-0.02 GPa. The proximity to an antiferromagnetic instability in U_3Ni_3Sn_4 is consistent with the previously reported non-Fermi liquid term in the low-temperature specific heat.

14 pages (including 4 figures); pdf format