Signature of f -electron conductance in α -Ce single-atom contacts
Abstract
Cerium is a fascinating element exhibiting, with its different phases, long-range magnetic order and superconductivity in bulk form. The coupling of the 4 f electron to s d conduction electrons and to the lattice is responsible for unique structural and electronic properties like the isostructural first-order solid-solid transition from the cubic γ phase to the cubic α phase, which is accompanied by a huge volume collapse of 14%. We report experiments aiming at disentangling the 4 f contribution to the electric conductance of the different phases. On single-atom Ce contacts we observe a strongly enhanced conductance G . By controlling the content of α -Ce employing different rates of cooling, we find a strong correlation between the fraction of α -Ce and the magnitude of G at the last conductance plateau before the contact breaks. We attribute the enhanced conductance of α -Ce to the additional contribution of the 4 f level.
- Publication:
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Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- August 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.96.085120
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1610.05933
- Bibcode:
- 2017PhRvB..96h5120K
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Materials Science;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
- E-Print:
- 3 Figures