Unusual low-temperature thermodynamic properties of pellet samples of (DMe-DCNQI)2M (M=Li, Ag)

Abstract

We have performed low-temperature heat capacity measurements on pellet samples of (DMe-DCNQI)2M (M=Li, Ag) which is known to show spin-Peierls transitions at 51 and 86 K, respectively. A linearly temperature-dependent term in the low-temperature heat capacity has been observed for both the samples: It is attributable to the spin-wave excitations induced by the inhomogeneous pressure effects produced in the pellet forming process. Although the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility in both materials are almost the same, the coefficient of T-linear term of the Ag salt becomes three times larger that that of the Li salt. The peculiar electronic state originating from the competition of the spin-Peierls mechanism and the Coulomb repulsion is suggested.