Spin glass behavior in URh_2Ge_2

Abstract

URh_2Ge_2 occupies an extraordinary position among the heavy-electron 122-compounds, by exhibiting a previously unidentified form of magnetic correlations at low temperatures, instead of the usual antiferromagnetism. Here we present new results of ac and dc susceptibilities, specific heat and neutron diffraction on single-crystalline as-grown URh_2Ge_2. These data clearly indicate that crystallographic disorder on a local scale produces spin glass behavior in the sample. We therefore conclude that URh_2Ge_2 is a 3D Ising-like, random-bond, heavy-fermion spin glass.