Anomalous Low Temperature States in CeNi2Ge2

TL;DR

This paper investigates unusual low-temperature resistivity behaviors in high-purity CeNi2Ge2, revealing non-Fermi liquid states and phase anomalies, and compares these findings with related compounds near magnetic transitions.

Contribution

It presents new experimental evidence of anomalous resistivity and phase behavior in CeNi2Ge2, expanding understanding of non-Fermi liquid states in 4f-electron metals.

Findings

Observation of anomalous low-temperature resistivity in CeNi2Ge2

Identification of phase diagrams with resistance loss and high-pressure phases

Comparison with CePd2Si2 highlights proximity to magnetic quantum criticality

Abstract

Ambient pressure studies on high purity single crystals of the stoichiometric 4f-electron metal CeNi2Ge2 reveal anomalous low temperature forms of the resistivity which challenge our understanding of the metallic state. Comparisons are made with the isostructural and isoelectronic compound CePd2Si2 near the border of magnetism at high pressure, and possible reasons for this novel non-Fermi liquid form of the resistivity are discussed. Phase diagrams of further anomalies are presented, which involve a loss of resistance at low temperature in some samples of CeNi2Ge2 and unexpected high pressure phases.