Suppression of quadrupolar order on Si doping in YbRu(2)(Ge(1 - x)Si(x))(2)

J Phys Condens Matter. 2010 Mar 31;22(12):126004. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/22/12/126004. Epub 2010 Mar 12.

Abstract

We have investigated the magnetic properties of polycrystalline Y bRu(2)(Ge(1 - x)Si(x))(2) samples using magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements. All the results indicate that the Yb ions in Y bRu(2)(Ge(1 - x)Si(x))(2) are in a stable trivalent state. The antiferromagnetic ordering shifts to lower temperature with increasing Si concentration (x). The weak Kondo-like resistivity minimum observed in the resistivity data for x = 0 shifts toward lower temperature with an increase in the Si content and finally disappears. The most dramatic observation is the complete suppression of the quadrupolar ordering in Y bRu(2)Ge(2) (T(Q) = 10 K) even for 2% Si doping.