Antiferromagnetic ordering in the Kondo lattice system Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic and electronic properties of Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$, revealing antiferromagnetic ordering below 1.7 K and Kondo lattice behavior with a large Sommerfeld coefficient, without superconductivity at low temperatures.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive bulk property analysis of Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$, highlighting its antiferromagnetic order and Kondo lattice characteristics.

Findings

Yb$^{3+}$ moments order antiferromagnetically below 1.7 K

Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ exhibits Kondo lattice behavior with large Sommerfeld coefficient

No superconductivity observed down to 0.3 K at ambient pressure

Abstract

Compounds belonging to the R$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ series exhibit unusual superconducting and magnetic properties. Although a number of studies have been made on the first reentrant antiferromagnet superconductor Tm$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$, the physical properties of Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ are largely unexplored. In this work, we attempt to provide a comprehensive study of bulk properties such as, resistivity, susceptibility and heat-capacity of a well characterized polycrystalline Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$. Our measurements indicate that Yb$^{3+}$ moments order antiferromagnetically below 1.7 K. Moreover, the system behaves as a Kondo lattice with large Sommerfeld coefficient ($\gamma$) of 0.5~J/Yb mol K$^{2}$ at 0.3 K, which is well below T$_N$. The absence of superconductivity in Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ down to 0.3 K at ambient pressure is attributed to the presence of the Kondo effect.