Analysis of the temperature-dependent specific heat of Pr$_{1-x}$Nd$_x$Os$_4$Sb$_{12}$

ORAL

Abstract

The compounds PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ and NdOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ have attracted interest due to their properties at low temperatures, where they exhibit unconventional heavy-fermion superconductivity and ferromagnetism respectively. The series of compounds Pr$_{1-x}$Nd$_x$Os$_4$Sb$_{12}$ is being studied in order to understand the interaction between these effects. Previous studies have shown that there is competition between the superconducting and ferromagnetic effects and that for particular concentrations of Nd and Pr, the two phenomena coexist within the sample. In order to understand this system, the specific heat was measured in the normal state from 10 – 300 K. Thermodynamic parameters were extracted from the specific heat data for each sample, including the Debye Temperature, Einstein Temperature, and electronic specific heat coefficient. These provide information about the properties of the lattice and conduction electrons. The Einstein and Debye temperatures were both found to have a minimum around $x = 0.55$, which suggests a form of lattice-softening taking place at the Nd concentration where the superconductivity disappears and a possible quantum critical point may occur.

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Authors

  • Shoji Hishida

    Physics, California State University, Fresno

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343