Second low-temperature phase transition in frustrated UNi4B

Citation
R. Movshovich et al., Second low-temperature phase transition in frustrated UNi4B, PHYS REV L, 83(10), 1999, pp. 2065-2068
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
83
Issue
10
Year of publication
1999
Pages
2065 - 2068
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(19990906)83:10<2065:SLPTIF>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
Hexagonal UNi4B is magnetically frustrated, yet it orders antiferromagnetic ally at T-N = 20 K. However, one-third of the U spins remains paramagnetic below this temperature. In order to track these spins to lower temperature, we measured the specific heat C of UNi4B between 100 mK and 2 K, in applie d fields up to 9 T. A sharp kink in C at T* approximate to 330 mK is observ ed at zero field, which we interpret as an indication of a second phase tra nsition involving paramagnetic U. We attribute the rise in gamma = C/T betw een 7 K and 330 mK and the absence of a large entropy liberated at T* to a combination of Kondo screening effects and frustration that strongly modifi es the low T transition.