Development of antiferromagnetic correlations in the heavy-fermion systemUPt3

Abstract

We have carried out an inelastic neutron scattering study of ${\mathrm{UPt}}_3$. For low temperatures, antiferromagnetic correlations, with a characteristic energy of 5 meV, between spins in adjacent planes of this hexagonal material are observed. They become apparent below the temperature at which the bulk magnetic susceptibility displays a maximum. We conclude that correlations between the localized (f-like) moments are an important aspect of the low-temperature, coherent state of heavy-fermion systems. The relation of our results to the unconventional superconductivity of ${\mathrm{UPt}}_3$ is also described.