Mesoscopic magnetic states in metallic alloys with strong electronic correlations : a percolative scenario for CeNi/sub 1-x/Cu/sub x/

We present evidence for the existence of magnetic clusters of approximately 20 Å in the strongly correlated alloy system CeNi1-xCux (0.7 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) based on small angle neutron scattering experiments as well as the occurrence of staircaselike hysteresis cycles at very low temperature (100 mK). An un...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Marcano, N.; Gómez Sal, J.C.; Espeso, José Ignacio; De Teresa, J.M.; Algarabel, P.A.; Paulsen, C.; Iglesias, Jose Roberto
Format: Article
Status:Published version
Publication date:2007
Country:Brasil
Institution:UFRGS
Repository:Repositório Institucional da UFRGS
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:www.lume.ufrgs.br:10183/99400
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10183/99400
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Ligas de cério
Ligas de cobre
Materiais ferromagnéticos
Aglomerados metálicos
Difração de nêutrons
Momentos magnéticos
Histerese
Transicao vitrea
Description
Summary:We present evidence for the existence of magnetic clusters of approximately 20 Å in the strongly correlated alloy system CeNi1-xCux (0.7 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) based on small angle neutron scattering experiments as well as the occurrence of staircaselike hysteresis cycles at very low temperature (100 mK). An unusual feature is the observation of long-range ferromagnetic order below the cluster-glass transition without any indication of a sharp transition at a Curie temperature. These observations strongly support a phenomenological model where a percolative process connects both magnetic states. The model can account for all the puzzling data previously obtained in this system, providing a new perspective with regard to the magnetic ground state of other alloyed compounds with small magnetic moments or weak ferromagnetism with intrinsic disorder effects.