Changes in non-Fermi liquid behavior with annealing due to lattice disorder in UCu_4Pd

TL;DR

This study investigates how annealing-induced lattice disorder affects the non-Fermi liquid behavior in UCu_4Pd, revealing structural changes that influence electronic properties.

Contribution

It provides quantitative analysis of disorder changes due to annealing and assesses their impact on non-Fermi liquid behavior in UCu_4Pd.

Findings

Annealing reduces Pd atoms on Cu sites.

Annealing decreases U-Cu pair-distance distribution width.

Disorder changes correlate with non-Fermi liquid properties.

Abstract

The magnetic and electronic properties of non-Fermi liquid UCu_4Pd depend on annealing conditions. Local structural changes due to this annealing are reported from U L_III- and Pd K-edge x-ray absorption fine-structure measurements. In particular, annealing decreases the fraction of Pd atoms on nominally Cu 16e sites and the U-Cu pair-distance distribution width. This study provides quantitative information on the amount of disorder in UCu_4Pd and allows an assessment of its possible importance to the observed non-Fermi liquid behavior.