Magnetic field tuning of the low temperature state in YbNiSi3

TL;DR

This study investigates how magnetic fields influence the low temperature magnetic and electronic properties of YbNiSi3, revealing a field-induced phase transition and suppression of magnetic order, contributing to understanding quantum criticality in heavy fermion systems.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental data on magnetic field effects in YbNiSi3, highlighting a field-induced phase transition and suppression of magnetic order, which advances knowledge of quantum critical points in heavy fermion compounds.

Findings

Antiferromagnetic ground state transitions to a metamagnetic phase at ~16 kOe.

Magnetic order is suppressed at ~85 kOe.

Resistivity and specific heat behaviors are characterized in the context of quantum criticality.

Abstract

We present detailed, low temperature, magnetoresistance and specific heat data of single crystal YbNiSi3 measured in magnetic field applied along the easy magnetic axis, H || b. An initially antiferromagnetic ground state changes into a field-induced metamagnetic phase at ~16 kOe (T -> 0). On further increase of magnetic field, magnetic order is suppressed at ~85 kOe. The functional behaviors of the resistivity and specific heat are discussed in comparison with those of the few other stoichiometric, heavy fermion compounds with established field-induced quantum critical point.