Elastic response of U.sub.3./sub.Cu.sub.4./sub.Ge.sub.4./sub. to spontaneous and field-induced phase transitions

0562988 - FZÚ 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Gorbunov, D.I. - Hibino, R. - Skourski, Y. - Yanagisawa, T. - Andreev, Alexander V. - Zherlitsyn, S. - Wosnitza, J.
Elastic response of U₃Cu₄Ge₄ to spontaneous and field-induced phase transitions.
Physical Review B. Roč. 106, č. 14 (2022), č. článku 144403. ISSN 2469-9950. E-ISSN 2469-9969
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA21-09766S; GA MŠMT(CZ) LM2018096
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : uranium intermetallic compounds * magnetic properties * acoustic properties
OECD category: Condensed matter physics (including formerly solid state physics, supercond.)
Impact factor: 3.7, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.106.144403

U3Cu4Ge4 is a uniaxial ferromagnet that displays a first-order magnetization process (FOMP) at 25 T for field applied along the hard b axis. Here, we report on ultrasound and magnetostriction measurements of U3Cu4Ge4 in static and pulsed magnetic fields up to 40 T. The FOMP causes stepwise anomalies in the magnetoelastic properties. U3Cu4Ge4 elongates along the a and c axes and shrinks along the b axis, leading to an almost zero volume effect. The sound velocities of the longitudinal and transverse acoustic waves decrease sharply at the FOMP, whereas the sound attenuation shows pronounced peaks. An analysis of the ultrasound data using a mean-field theory suggests the existence of quadrupolar interactions and crystal-electric-field effects. The 5f electronic states are between itinerant and localized, typical of uranium-based intermetallic compounds.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0337787