Spin glass behaviour in doped and pure UPt3 — A possible key

Author: Trinkl W.   Corsèpius S.   Guha E.   Stewart G. R.  

Publisher: Edp Sciences

E-ISSN: 1286-4854|35|3|207-214

ISSN: 0295-5075

Source: EPL (EUROPHYSICS LETTERS), Vol.35, Iss.3, 2010-03, pp. : 207-214

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Abstract

While studying doped $\rm UPt _{\rm 3}$, we employed the standard technique ofmeasuring $\chi_{\rm dc}$ in both zero-field–cooled and field-cooled statesto check for possible spin glass behaviour. The results of these studies leadto the discovery that nominally pure $\rm UPt _{ 3}$ itself has a tendencytowards spin glass behaviour. This instability makes for very sample-dependentproperties (as is typical in spin glasses), especially for superconductivity,and is likely the long-sought "hidden parameter" linking a large number ofthe unusual behaviours in $\rm UPt _{3}$. Thus, the measured spin glassbehaviour in $\rm UPt _{3}$ reported here can explain the extreme sampledependence of $T _{\rm c}$, the observed aging effect on $T _{\rm c}$, and thedestruction of superconductivity in $\rm UPt _{ 3}$ by grinding. In addition,the discovery of spin glass behaviour in UPt 3 may have implicationsfor understanding the small-moment magnetism below 5 K and the doublesuperconducting transition in some samples, as well as helping to explain theknown important role of defects in $\rm UPt _{ 3}$.