Suppression of the $\gamma-\alpha$ structural phase transition in $Ce_{0.8} La_{0.1} Th_{0.1}$ by large magnetic fields

TL;DR

This study investigates how large magnetic fields suppress the $ ext{γ-α}$ phase transition in a cerium alloy, revealing that the transition temperature drops to zero at around 56 T, driven mainly by entropy changes in $4f$ electrons.

Contribution

It demonstrates the suppression of the $ ext{γ-α}$ transition in Ce-based alloys by high magnetic fields and models the transition's magnetic and thermal dependence based on $4f$-electron entropy.

Findings

Transition temperature decreases with magnetic field

Transition reaches zero at approximately 56 T

Entropy of $4f$ electrons drives volume collapse

Abstract

The $\gamma-\alpha$ transition in Ce$_{0.8}$La$_{0.1}$Th$_{0.1}$ is measured as a function of applied magnetic field using both resistivity and magnetization. The $\gamma - \alpha$ transition temperature decreases with increasing magnetic field, reaching zero temperature at around 56 T. The magnetic-field dependence of the transition temperature may be fitted using a model that invokes the field and temperature dependence of the entropy of the $4f$-electron moments of the $\gamma$ phase, suggesting that the volume collapse in Ce and its alloys is primarily driven by entropic considerations.