Low-Temperature Properties of CePt3P Tuned by Magnetic Field*

Abstract

We present low-temperature magnetization, magnetoresistance and specific heat measurements on the Kondo lattice compound CePt3P under applied magnetic fields up to 9.0 T. At zero field, CePt3P exhibits a moderately enhanced Sommerfeld coefficient of electronic specific heat γ Ce = 86 mJ/mol·K2 as well as two successive magnetic transitions of Ce 4f moments: an antiferromagnetic ordering at T N1 = 3.0K and a spin reorientation at T N2 = 1.9 K. The value of T N1 shifts to lower temperature as magnetic field increases, and it is ultimately suppressed around B c ∼ 3.0T at 1.5 K. No evidence of non-Fermi liquid behavior is observed around B c down to the lowest temperature measured. Moreover, γ decreases monotonously with increasing the magnetic field. On the other hand, the electrical resistivity shows an anomalous temperature dependence ρ ∝ T n with the exponent n decreasing monotonously from ∼2.6 around B c down to ∼1.7 for B = 9.0 T. The T–B phase diagram constructed from the present experimental results of CePt3P does not match the quantum criticality scenario of heavy fermion systems.