Transport properties of the YbAl3 compound: On the energy scales of YbAl3 from thermopower data

We report thermopower and resistivity measurements of an YbAl3 single crystal obtained by the “self-flux” method. Our data reveal Fermi liquid behavior up to TFL = 35 K. The Kondo temperature, TK ≈ 450 K, was determined from the high temperature thermopower data. The characteristic temperature, T0, extracted from the temperature slope of the thermopower in the Fermi liquid regime is higher than the TK. We discuss a possible explanation of the obtained energy scales of YbAl3.

► The thermopower of the YbAl3 single crystal obtained by the “self-flux” method is reported for the first time. ► The characteristic temperature, T0, extracted from the temperature slope of the thermopower in the Fermi liquid regime is higher than the TFL and, moreover, higher than the TK. ► We point that in the papers dealing with Kondo lattice systems, the authors do not distinguish T0 and TFL and usually it is taken T0TFL. ► Also we point out that there is a great mess in notation of the characteristic temperatures and points of Kondo lattice system.