Nonuniversality of the non-Fermi-liquid state inCeRhSb1−xSnxcompounds on the Sn-rich side

Abstract

We examine the electronic properties of the CeRhSb1−xSnx metallic series with 0.78⩽x⩽1 by treating the non-Fermi liquid (NFL) state of CeRhSn as a reference state. A nonuniversal behavior of the NFL phase is observed as a function of x, which is attributed to enhanced magnetic disorder effects introduced by alloying, from one side and to the role of spin fluctuations due to Rh 4d electrons from the other. The NFL behavior at the lowest temperatures is attributed to quantum critical fluctuations among 4f electrons due to Ce, whereas the spin fluctuations become pronounced at higher temperatures T>6K. Thus, in Sn-rich samples those two types of fluctuations coexist. An itinerant-electron type of spin-glass-like state with a small magnetic moment appears at temperatures T⩽5K. These studies complement our previous work on the same system in the Sb-rich region, i.e., with 0⩽x<0.2, where the Kondo semiconducting state evolves into NFL state via a quantum critical point located at x≅0.12.