Evidence for the Single-Site Quadrupolar Kondo Effect in the Dilute Non-Kramers System Y1-xPrxIr2Zn20

Abstract

Acoustic signatures of the single-site quadrupolar Kondo effect in Y0.966Pr0.034Ir2Zn20 are presented. The elastic constant (C11-C12)/2, corresponding to the Γ3(E)-symmetry electric-quadrupolar response, reveals a logarithmic temperature dependence of the quadrupolar susceptibility in the low-magnetic-field region below ∼0.3 K. Furthermore, the Curie-type divergence of the elastic constant down to ∼1 K indicates that the Pr ions in this diluted system have a non-Kramers ground-state doublet. These observations evidence the single-site quadrupolar Kondo effect, as previously suggested based on specific-heat and electrical-resistivity data.