Low temperature specific heat of Ni3Al and Ni3Ga

Abstract

Results of specific heat measurements between 1.5 K and 15 K on a large number of alloys in the range of existence of the Ni3Al and Ni3Ga intermetallic phases are reported. For four Ni3Ga samples the measurements were extended down to 0.2 K, and the effect of various heat treatments on the specific heat was measured on two Ni3Ga samples. The results, especially their concentration dependence, definitely exclude the presence of any appreciable contribution of the form predicted for paramagnon enhancement, but an interpretation in terms of superparamagnetic clusters also runs into serious difficulties.