Magneto-heat capacity study on Kondo lattice system Ce(Ni 1−x Cu x )2Al3

Abstract

Heat capacity studies on the Kondo lattice system Ce(Ni1−x Cu x )2Al3, in the presence of magnetic fields, were reported for x = 0.0−0.4. The physical properties of the intermediate compositions like x = 0.3 and 0.4 were known for their enhanced thermoelectric power and hence have been analysed with an extra interest. It was also shown from the X-ray diffraction that these systems with x = 0.3 and 0.4 were in single phase in terms of sample purity and it stabilized the phases easily with the increase in the Cu doping in the system. The low temperature rise in C p/T below 10 K under the influence of high magnetic fields was analysed using a multi-level Schottky effect. A gradual decrease of the total angular momentum (J) with the increase of applied magnetic fields indicated a scenario of screening of Ce3+ magnetic moment while simultaneously the system settled for the Fermi liquid state. The screening thus seen was in line with the expectations of electrical conductivity measurements on these samples.