Massive electron state in YbBiPt

Abstract

Measurements of the electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, ac and dc magnetic susceptibility and specific heat on YbBiPt indicate this compound to be a IveryP heavy-electron system. The low-temperature Sommerfeld coefficient of 8 J/${\mathrm{K}}^2$ (mole Yb) is not affected by a phase transition at 0.4 K. We suggest that the heavy-mass state in YbBiPt is unconventional in that it develops from Bloch states in an electronic subsystem with low carrier concentration.