English

Towards a critical endpoint in the valence fluctuating Eu(Rh$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$Si$_2$ system

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2025-05-05 v1

Abstract

We report on the successful single crystal growth of pure EuRh2{_2}Si2{_2} and of Eu(Rh1x_{1-x}Cox_{x})2_2Si2_2 with x0.23x\leq0.23 by the flux method. Through Co substitution, EuRh2_2Si2_2 can be tuned from stable antiferromagnetism via a valence-transition state towards the valence-crossover regime. From magnetization measurements, we constructed a BTB - T phase diagram for EuRh2{_2}Si2{_2} comprising multiple magnetic phases and showing a sizable magnetic anisotropy within the basal plane of the tetragonal unit cell. This indicates a complex antiferromagnetic ground state for x=0x=0. By applying positive chemical pressure through the substitution series Eu(Rh1x_{1-x}Cox_{x})2_2Si2_2, a sharp temperature-induced first-order phase transition is observed in magnetization, resistivity and heat capacity for 0.081 \leq xx \leq 0.119. The critical end point of this valence transition is located in the phase diagram in the vicinity of 0.119 <xEDX<<x_{\rm EDX}< 0.166. At higher substitution level, the system reaches a valence-crossover regime. The obtained results are presented in a temperature-substitition phase diagram.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2505.01127,
  title  = {Towards a critical endpoint in the valence fluctuating Eu(Rh$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$Si$_2$ system},
  author = {Franziska Walther and Michelle Ocker and Alexej Kraiker and Nubia Caroca-Canales and Silvia Seiro and Kristin Kliemt and Cornelius Krellner},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.01127},
  year   = {2025}
}