Non-Fermi Liquid Behavior in Dilute Quadrupolar System Pr$_{x}$La$_{1-x}$Pb$_3$ with $x$$\le$0.05

Abstract

We have studied the low-temperature properties of Pr$_{x}$La$_{1-x}$Pb$_{3}$ with non-Kramers $Γ_{3}$ quadrupolar moments of the crystal-electric-field ground state, for a wide concentration range of Pr ions. For $x$$\le$0.05, the specific heat $C/T$ increases monotonically below $T$=1.5 K, which can be scaled with a characteristic temperature $T^{*}$ defined at each concentration $x$. The electrical resistivity $ρ$$(T)$ in the corresponding temperature region shows a marked decrease deviating from a Fermi-liquid behavior $ρ$$(T)$$\propto$$T^{2}$. The Kondo effect arising from the correlation between the dilute $Γ_{3}$ moments and the conduction electrons may give rise to such anomalous behavior.