Quantum criticality in the cubic heavy-fermion system CeIn3-xSnx

Abstract

We report a comprehensive study of CeIn3−xSnx (0.55≤x≤0.8) single crystals close to the antiferromagnetic quantum-critical point (QCP) at xc≈0.67 by means of the low-temperature thermal expansion and Grüneisen parameter. This system represents the first example for a cubic heavy fermion in which TN can be suppressed continuously down to T=0. A characteristic sign change of the Grüneisen parameter between the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic states indicates the accumulation of entropy close to the QCP. The observed quantum-critical behavior is compatible with the predictions of the itinerant theory for three-dimensional critical spin fluctuations. This has important implications for the role of the dimensionality in heavy-fermion QCPs.