Physical properties of MnSi at extreme doping with Co: Quantum criticality

Abstract

The samples of (Mn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)Si with $x=0.15$ and $x=0.17$ were grown and their physical properties: magnetization and magnetic susceptibility, resistivity and heat capacity were studied. The data analysis included also the previous results at $x=0.057, 0.063, 0.09$. The indicated doping MnSi with Co completely destroys the helical phase transition whereas basically saves the helical fluctuation area normally situated slightly above the phase transition temperature. This area spreading from $\sim$5 to 0 K is not changed much with doping and forms some sort of helical fluctuation cloud revealing the quantum critical properties: $C_p/T\rightarrow\infty$ at $T\rightarrow0$.