Europium mixed-valence, long-range magnetic order, and dynamic magnetic response in EuCu2(SixGe1−x)2

In mixed-valence or heavy-fermion systems, the hybridization between local f orbitals and conduction band states can cause the suppression of long-range magnetic order, which competes with strong spin uctuations. Ce- and Yb-based systems have been found to exhibit fascinating physical properties (heavy-fermion superconductivity, non-Fermi-liquid states, etc.) when tuned to the vicinity of magnetic quantum critical points by use of various external control parameters (temperature, magnetic eld, chemical composition). Recently, similar effects (mixed-valence, Kondo uctuations, heavy Fermi liquid) have been reported to exist in some Eu-based compounds. Unlike Ce (Yb), Eu has a multiple electron (hole) occupancy of its 4f shell, and the magnetic Eu2+ state (4f7) has no orbital component in the usual LS coupling scheme, which can lead to a quite different and interesting physics. In the EuCu2(SixGe1-x)2 series, where the valence can be tuned by varying the Si/Ge ratio, it has been reported that a significant valence uctuation can exist even in the magnetic order regime. This paper presents a detailed study of the latter material using different microscopic probes (XANES, Mossbauer spectroscopy, elastic and inelastic neutron scattering), in which the composition dependence of the magnetic order and dynamics across the series is traced back to the changemore » in the Eu valence state. In particular, the results support the persistence of valence uctuations into the antiferromagnetic state over a sizable composition range below the critical Si concentration xc ≈ 0:65. In conclusion, the sequence of magnetic ground states in the series is shown to re ect the evolution of the magnetic spectral response.« less