Magnetic to nonmagnetic transition in a highly hybridized <i>f</i>-electron system: U(Ga1−<i>x</i>Ge<i>x</i>)3

Abstract

UGa3 is an antiferromagnetic system with a Néel temperature TN =67 K and UGe3 is a weakly paramagnetic system with a nearly temperature-independent magnetic susceptibility and a slightly enhanced low-temperature electronic specific heat coefficient of 20 mJ/mole K2. The room-temperature lattice constant and the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and low-temperature specific heat have been measured for the pseudobinary alloy system, U(Ga1−xGex)3. TN is rapidly depressed with increasing x and appears to go to zero at x≂0.18. The magnetic susceptibility remains nearly temperature independent across the series and neither the magnetic susceptibility nor low-temperature specific heat display any significant enhancement in the paramagnetic regime.