Abstract
The thermal expansion of the heavy fermion compound CeRh2Si 2 has been measured under pressure as a function of temperature using strain gages. A large anomaly associated with the Néel temperature has been detected even above the suspected critical pressure Pc∼1. 05GPa where no indication of antiferromagnetism has been observed in calorimetry experiments sensitive to the entropy change. The volume change at T N1 proves the first-order nature of the collapse of antiferromagnetism. An unexpected feature is the weak pressure dependence of the antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition in comparison to the fast pressure collapse predicted for a homogeneous first-order quantum phase transition with one single pressure singularity at Pc. A large pressure dependence is observed in the anisotropy of the thermal expansion measured parallel or perpendicular to the c-axis of this tetragonal crystal. This points out the collapse of the efficiency of the crystal field effects at Pv which indicates the entrance into the intermediate valence regime.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 015203 |
Journal | Journal of Physics Condensed Matter |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 Jan 9 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics