Eur. Phys. J. B 18, 625-632 (2000)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510070011

Neutron scattering on the strongly correlated electron CeNi_1-xCu_x system: from non-magnetic behaviour to long-range magnetic order

¹ Dpto. Física Moderna, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
² CITIMAC, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
³ Dpto. de Física, Universidad de Oviedo, 33007 Oviedo, Spain
⁴ Institut Laue Langevin, BP 156, 38042 Grenoble Cedex, France

Corresponding author: ^a espesoji@unican.es

Received: 22 May 2000
Published online: 15 December 2000

Abstract

The ground state of the strongly correlated electron CeNiCu_x compounds has been investigated by means of neutron scattering experiments. Thus, magnetic diffraction was performed for compounds showing long-range magnetic order (x > 0.2). An evolution from a collinear ferromagnetic structure for x=0.6 to a simple antiferromagnetic one for CeCu takes place through some more complex magnetic structures for intermediate compositions. The magnetic moments are continuously reduced when the Ni content increases reflecting the progressive enhancement of the Kondo screening. The large reduction found for x=0.6 compound is discussed and the existence of a spin glass like component of the magnetic moment cannot be discarded. From the quasielastic spectra, we have obtained the Kondo temperatures which are close to the magnetic ordering ones. The quasielastic line-width evolves from a linear temperature dependence to a behaviour when approaching the non-magnetic limit. Then, this system provides an interesting example for the evolution of unstable 4f shell relaxation regimes when modifying the hybridisation strength.