Eur. Phys. J. B 26, 199-209 (2002)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e20020081

Competing polarization mechanisms in the heavy-fermion paramagnet CeCu₆

Site specific NMR information for CeCu₆ powder samples

Physikalisches Institut, Universität Karlsruhe, Wolfgang-Gaede-Str. 1, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a edo@piobelix.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de

Received: 20 November 2001
Published online: 15 March 2002

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and relaxation of ⁶³Cu and ⁶⁵Cu in a powder sample of the heavy-fermion paramagnet CeCu₆ is measured and analysed quantitatively. Five different Cu sites are accessible to a detailed analysis. We derive quadrupolar splitting frequencies, Ce to Cu transferred hyperfine field coupling constants, and transversal as well as longitudinal relaxation behaviour. Only small relaxation anomalies are observed at the orthorhombic to monoclinic structural phase transition of CeCu₆. We point to the different importance of transferred hyperfine interaction and local conduction electron density for static or dynamic part, respectively, of Cu hyperfine interaction. The different sign of the transferred hyperfine interaction from Ce³⁺ to different Cu neighbours reveals the different competing interaction mechanisms, giving rise to the heavy-fermion paramagnetic behavior of CeCu₆.