Thermal Expansion in YbGaGe

TL;DR

This study measures the thermal expansion and magnetic susceptibility of YbGaGe, revealing typical metallic behavior and questioning previous claims of zero thermal expansion, suggesting sample dependence issues.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on YbGaGe's properties, challenging prior reports of zero thermal expansion and highlighting sample variability.

Findings

YbGaGe shows normal metallic thermal expansion.

Magnetic susceptibility indicates Pauli paramagnetism.

Results suggest sample dependence affects properties.

Abstract

Thermal expansion and magnetic susceptibility measurements as a function of temperature are reported for YbGaGe. Despite the fact that this material has been claimed to show zero thermal expansion over a wide temperature range, we observe thermal expansion typical of metals and Pauli paramagnetic behavior, which perhaps indicates strong sample dependence in this system.