Low temperature study of intermediate-valence Yb-based quasicrystals

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24540386
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Condensed matter physics II
• Research Institution: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
• Principal Investigator: WATANUKI Tetsu 独立行政法人日本原子力研究開発機構, 原子力科学研究部門 量子ビーム応用研究センター, 研究主幹 (30343932)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ISHIMASA Tsutomu 北海道大学, 工学研究院, 教授 (10135270) ; TSAI AnPang 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 教授 (90225681)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 金属 / 準結晶 / 量子臨界現象 / 価数揺動 / Ｘ線吸収分光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A quasiperiodic intermediate-valence system is realized in an icosahedral Yb-Au-Al quasicrystal. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates that quasiperiodically arranged Yb ions assume a mean valence of 2.61, between a divalent state and a trivalent one. At temperatures below 10 K, specific heat and magnetization measurements reveal non-Fermi-liquid behavior in this quasicrystal without either doping, pressure, or field tuning. Additionally, a heterogeneous valence state is likely to be realized.

Free Research Field

固体物理