YbPd$_2$In: a promising candidate to strong entropy accumulation at very low temperature

TL;DR

YbPd₂In exhibits strong entropy accumulation at very low temperatures with potential for magnetic cooling, characterized by weak magnetic interactions, negligible Kondo effect, and a significant entropy jump near 250 mK.

Contribution

This study introduces YbPd₂In as a new Heusler-structured compound with unique low-temperature thermodynamic properties and potential for magnetic refrigeration applications.

Findings

Large entropy increase at 250 mK observed

Weak magnetic interactions and negligible Kondo effect confirmed

Significant magnetocaloric effect demonstrated

Abstract

We report on synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic, thermodynamic and transport properties of the new compound YbPd$_2$In, crystallizing as a Heusler structure type. A trivalent state of the rare earth was determined by fitting the magnetic susceptibility with a Curie-Weiss law. This compound is characterized by showing very weak magnetic interactions and a negligible Kondo effect. A specific heat jump was observed at $T\approx 250$ mK, followed at higher temperature by a power law decrease of $C_P(T)/T$. The resulting large electronic entropy increase at very low temperature is rapidly shifted to higher temperature by the application of magnetic field. This magnetocaloric effect places YbPd$_2$In as a very good candidate for adiabatic demagnetization cooling processes.