Thermal Expansion Coefficients of CeCu₂and YCu₂Single Crystals

Abstract

Thermal expansions of CeCu 2 and YCu 2 single crystals have been measured in the temperature range from 2.0 K to 300 K. It is found that the linear thermal expansion coefficients α i ( i = a , b and c ) of CeCu 2 are strongly anisotropic among each crystal axis reflecting orthorhombic crystal structure. A well-defined anomaly due to antiferromagnetic ordering is observed near 3.5 K in the α i - T curves of CeCu 2 . A magnetic contribution to α i ( T ) due to the 4f electron is estimated by comparing the α i - T curve of CeCu 2 with that of YCu 2 .