Properties and Collapse of the Ferromagnetism in UCo1-xRuxAl Studied in Single Crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates the properties and collapse of ferromagnetism in UCo1-xRuxAl single crystals, revealing how hybridization and disorder influence quantum criticality and magnetic phase transitions.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the evolution and suppression of ferromagnetism in UCo1-xRuxAl, highlighting the role of hybridization and disorder near the quantum critical point.

Findings

Ferromagnetic phase develops suddenly and is isolated by paramagnetic regions.

Hybridization between U and T-site increases with x, affecting magnetic interactions.

Critical concentration for FM suppression is x = 0.77, indicating quantum critical points.

Abstract

We have investigated the ferromagnetic (FM) phase which suddenly develops in UCo1-xRuxAl and is isolated by paramagnetic regions on both sides from the parent UCoAl and URuAl. For that purpose we have grown high quality single crystals with x = 0.62, 0.70, 0.74, 0.75 and 0.78. The properties of the FM phase have been investigated by microscopic and macroscopic methods. Polarized neutron diffraction on a single crystal with x = 0.62 revealed the gradual growth of the hybridization between U and T-site in the U - T plane with increasing x. Hybridization works here as a mediator of the strong indirect interaction, while the delocalized character of the 5 f states is still conserved. As a result very weak spontaneous magnetic moments are observed for all alloys with magnitude nearly in proportion to the TC for x < 0.62, while an enormous disproportion exists between them near xcrit.. The magnetization, specific heat, electrical resistivity, and Hall effect measurements confirmed that the FM transition is suppressed continuously at the critical concentration xcrit. = 0.77. Two quantum critical points are then expected on both sides of the FM dome. We propose a scenario that the order of the FM/PM transition differs at opposite boundaries of the FM dome. We conclude that both criticalities are influenced by disorder. Criticality on the UCoAl side has the character of a clean FM metal, while on the Ru rich side it has the character of a magnetically inhomogeneous system involving a Griffiths phase.