Thermal transport of the single-crystal rare-earth nickel borocarbides RNi2B2C
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abstract
The quaternary intermetallic rare-earth nickel borocarbides (formula presented) are a family of compounds that show magnetic behavior, superconducting behavior, and/or both. Thermal transport measurements reveal both electron and phonon scattering mechanisms, and can provide information on the interplay of these two long-range phenomena. In general the thermal conductivity (formula presented) is dominated by electrons, and the high temperature thermal conductivity is approximately linear in temperature and anomalous. For (formula presented) Ho, and Dy the low-temperature thermal conductivity exhibits a marked loss of scattering at the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (formula presented) Magnon heat conduction is suggested for (formula presented) The (formula presented) data for (formula presented) lends evidence for gapless superconductivity in this material above (formula presented) Unlike the case for the non-magnetic superconductors in the family, (formula presented) and Lu, a phonon peak in the thermal conductivity below (formula presented) is not observed down to (formula presented) for the magnetic superconductors. Single-crystal quality seems to have a strong effect on (formula presented) The electron-phonon interaction appears to weaken as one progresses from (formula presented) to (formula presented) The resistivity data shows the loss of scattering at (formula presented) for (formula presented) Tb, and Gd; and the thermoelectric power for all three of these materials exhibits an enhancement below (formula presented). 2002 The American Physical Society.
