Thermodynamics of CeNiSn at low temperatures and in weak magnetic fields

Abstract

Detailed experimental and theoretical studies of the low-temperature specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, thermal expansion and magnetostriction of the orthorhombic compound CeNiSn are presented. All anomalies observed in the thermodynamic and magnetic properties of CeNiSn are explained in a framework of a model of metallic Kondo lattice with well developed spin-liquid-type excitations. The pseudogap behavior of these excitations appears due to interplay between spin-fermions and soft crystal-field (CF) states. The thermodynamic relations for the spin liquid are derived. Together with the explanation of inelastic neutron scattering spectra given earlier within a same approach these studies of the low-temperature thermodynamics and magnetic response give a consistent description of the nature of anomalies in the low-temperature thermodynamics of perfect and imperfect CeNiSn crystals.