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Residual short-range order in the heavy fermion compound CeInCu2
1Advanced Research Center of Science (ARCS) of Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya 662, Japan. suikyo@kwansei.ac.jp
Acta Crystallographica. Section B, Structural Science
|August 6, 2000
Summary
Short-range order was detected in the heavy fermion compound cerium dicopper indium (CeInCu2) using X-ray diffraction. Disordered atoms form clusters and chains, minimally impacting residual resistivity.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Crystallography
Background:
- Cerium dicopper indium (CeInCu2) is a known heavy fermion compound.
- Heavy fermion compounds exhibit unique electronic and magnetic properties due to localized f-electrons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and nature of short-range order in CeInCu2.
- To understand the impact of atomic disorder on the compound's properties.
Main Methods:
- X-ray diffraction technique was employed to analyze the crystal structure.
- Analysis of diffuse scattering patterns to detect deviations from long-range order.
Main Results:
- Residual short-range order was observed in CeInCu2, even at room temperature, despite its overall long-range order.
- Disordered atoms tend to cluster along <111> directions, forming chain-like correlations with a period of 20-23 Å.
- The observed superstructure-like features of disordered atoms had a minimal effect on residual resistivity.
Conclusions:
- CeInCu2 exhibits a complex interplay between long-range and short-range atomic ordering.
- The observed short-range order and clustering are consistent with the material's residual resistivity behavior under pressure.