'Dilute' intermetallic compounds: the properties of zinc transition metal ζphases

Abstract

The well ordered zinc transition metal compounds Zn₁₃Mn, Zn₁₃Fe and Zn₁₃Co, in which the transition metal atoms are well separated, have been studied. Their specific heats, magnetic susceptibilities and transport properties have been measured. A description in terms of a regular array of virtual bound states is developed and is shown to be consistent with the results. The magnetic state of each transition metal atom is similar to that in the corresponding solid solution: Mn bears a well defined moment, Co is nonmagnetic and Fe is on the verge of magnetism. Their low temperature transport properties can be qualitatively understood in terms of the thermal fluctuations of an array of strong scatterers, but no formal theory has yet been developed.