Abstract
The quaternary intermetallic rare-earth nickel borocarbides are a family of compounds that show magnetic behavior, superconducting behavior, and/or both. Thermal transport measurements reveal both electron and phonon scattering mechanisms, and can provide information on the interplay of these two long-range phenomena. In general the thermal conductivity is dominated by electrons, and the high temperature thermal conductivity is approximately linear in temperature and anomalous. For Ho, and Dy the low-temperature thermal conductivity exhibits a marked loss of scattering at the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature Magnon heat conduction is suggested for The data for lends evidence for gapless superconductivity in this material above Unlike the case for the non-magnetic superconductors in the family, and Lu, a phonon peak in the thermal conductivity below is not observed down to for the magnetic superconductors. Single-crystal quality seems to have a strong effect on The electron-phonon interaction appears to weaken as one progresses from to The resistivity data shows the loss of scattering at for Tb, and Gd; and the thermoelectric power for all three of these materials exhibits an enhancement below
- Received 22 August 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.66.214512
©2002 American Physical Society