Quantum spin system in f-electron compounds -YbAl3C3 and its related compounds-

Abstract

A quantum spin system is seldom observed in f-electron compounds, probably because their magnetic ground states are represented by the total angular momentum J which is usually much larger than 1/2. One of exceptional cases is Yb4As3, which behaves as a one-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet. Recently, a new candidate of the quantum spin system YbAl3C3 with the ScAl3C3 type crystal structure has been found, where a magnetic dimer ground state is realized at low temperatures. To investigate the mechanism of the magnetic dimer formation in YbAl3C3, we have prepared several rare earth compounds RAl3C3with the ScAl3C3 type crystal structure and compared their physical properties with those of YbAl3C3. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.