Quantum criticality in the cubic heavy-fermion system CeIn_{3-x}Sn_x

TL;DR

This study investigates the quantum critical behavior of the cubic heavy-fermion system CeIn_{3-x}Sn_x near its antiferromagnetic quantum critical point, revealing three-dimensional critical spin fluctuations and entropy accumulation.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed experimental evidence of quantum criticality in a cubic heavy fermion system with continuous suppression of antiferromagnetic order.

Findings

Grüneisen parameter sign change indicates entropy accumulation near QCP

Quantum critical behavior aligns with itinerant 3D spin fluctuation theory

CeIn_{3-x}Sn_x is the first cubic HF system with continuous T_N suppression

Abstract

We report a comprehensive study of CeIn$_{3-x}$Sn$_x$ $(0.55 \leq x \leq 0.8)$ single crystals close to the antiferromagnetic (AF) quantum critical point (QCP) at $x_c\approx 0.67$ by means of the low-temperature thermal expansion and Gr\"uneisen parameter. This system represents the first example for a {\it cubic} heavy fermion (HF) in which $T_{\rm N}$ can be suppressed {\it continuously} down to T=0. A characteristic sign change of the Gr\"uneisen parameter between the AF and paramagnetic state indicates the accumulation of entropy close to the QCP. The observed quantum critical behavior is compatible with the predictions of the itinerant theory for three-dimensional critical spinfluctuations. This has important implications for the role of the dimensionality in HF QCPs.