Mesoscopic Magnetic States in Metallic Alloys with Strong Electronic Correlations: A Percolative Scenario for CeNi1-xCux

Marcano, N. ; Gomez Sal, J. C. ; Espeso, J. I. ; De Teresa, J. M. ; Algarabel, P. A. ; Paulsen, C. ; Iglesias, J. R.

Resumen: We present evidence for the existence of magnetic clusters of approximately 20 Å in the strongly correlated alloy system CeNi1−⁢Cu (0.7≤≤0.2) based on small angle neutron scattering experiments as well as the occurrence of staircaselike hysteresis cycles at very low temperature (100 mK). An unusual feature is the observation of long-range ferromagnetic order below the cluster-glass transition without any indication of a sharp transition at a Curie temperature. These observations strongly support a phenomenological model where a percolative process connects both magnetic states. The model can account for all the puzzling data previously obtained in this system, providing a new perspective with regard to the magnetic ground state of other alloyed compounds with small magnetic moments or weak ferromagnetism with intrinsic disorder effects.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.166406

Año: 2007

Publicado en: Physical Review Letters 98, 16 (2007), 2158-2169
ISSN: 0031-9007

Factor impacto JCR: 6.944 (2007)

Categ. JCR: PHYSICS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 5 / 68 = 0.074 (2007) - Q1 - T1

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)