Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the breathing kagome ising antiferromagnet Yb3Ni11Ge4.63

We have investigated magnetic properties of the rare-earth based intermetallic compound Yb3Ni11Ge4.63 (YNG), where Yb3+ ions form a breathing-kagome lattice. Single-site 4f electron wavefunctions of the ground-state doublet are deduced from magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The Weiss temperatures are quite anisotropic as Θa = −0.01(2) K (H ∥ a) and Θc = −0.67(2) K (H ∥ c), indicating Ising-like spin–spin interactions dominating in this compound. Low-temperature neutron diffraction confirms absence of magnetic Bragg peaks down to 0.05 K, whereas enhancement of broad peaks below 0.8 K was observed, a signature of short-range spin correlations. Competing interactions on the breathing-kagome lattice would suppress a magnetic long-range order in YNG. ©2020 The Physical Society of Japan

Keywords

Crystal structure, Magnetic properties, Antiferromagnetism, Intermetallic compounds, Ytterbium alloys, Germanium alloys, Nickel alloys, Specific heat, Ising model, Spin

Citation

Takahashi, M., Nawa, K., Okuyama, D., Nojiri, H., Frontzek, M. D., Avdeev, M., Yoshida, M., Ueta, D., Yoshizawa, H., & Sato, T. J. (2020). Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the breathing kagome ising antiferromagnet Yb3Ni11Ge4.63. Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 89(9), 094704. doi:10.7566/JPSJ.89.094704