Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1860366 Physics Letters A 2010 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

Low-temperature specific-heat measurements on YbRh2Si2 at the second order antiferromagnetic (AF) phase transition reveal a sharp peak at TN=72 mKTN=72 mK. The corresponding critical exponent α   turns out to be α=0.38α=0.38, which differs significantly from that obtained within the framework of the fluctuation theory of second order phase transitions based on the scale invariance, where α≃0.1α≃0.1. We show that under the application of magnetic field the curve of the second order AF phase transitions passes into a curve of the first order ones at the tricritical point leading to a violation of the critical universality of the fluctuation theory. This change of the phase transition is generated by the fermion condensation quantum phase transition. Near the tricritical point the Landau theory of second order phase transitions is applicable and gives α≃1/2α≃1/2. We demonstrate that this value of α is in good agreement with the specific-heat measurements.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy (General)
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