Magnetic field tuning of the low temperature state in YbNiSi$_3$: magnetic field induced quantum criticality

ORAL

Abstract

We present detailed, low temperature, magnetoresistance and specific heat data from measurements on YbNiSi$_3$ in magnetic field applied along the easy magnetic axis, $H \| b$. Initially the antiferromagnetic ground state changes into a field-induced metamagnetic phase at $\sim 16$ kOe ($T \to 0$). On further increase of magnetic field, magnetic order is suppressed to below 0.4 K at $\sim 85$ kOe. The functional behavior of the resistivity and specific heat is discussed in comparison with that of the few other stoichiometric, heavy fermion compounds with established field-induced quantum criticality.

*Ames Laboratory is operated for the U. S. Department of Energy by Iowa State University under Contract No. W-7405-Eng.-82. This work was supported by the director for Energy Research, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

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Authors

  • Marcos A. Avila

  • Toshiro Takabatake

    • Dept. of Quantum Matter, ADSM, Hiroshima University, Japan

  • Sergey L. Bud'ko

  • Paul C. Canfield

    • Ames Laboratory and Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, USA