Magnetic properties of the dense Kondo system CeB6 in high magnetic fields

Abstract This work reports on the phase diagram study of the dense Kondo system CeB 6 by means of magnetization ( M ) and transverse magnetoresistance (MR) measurements in magnetic fields ( B ) to 18 T, in the temperature ( T ) range from 1.8 to 40 K. The zero field resistivity displays Kondo behavior in the paramagnetic P-phase, while two discontinuities at low T were observed at T Q ≈3.5 K and T N ≈2.3 K, the boundaries of the antiferro-quadrupolar (AFQ), and antiferromagnetic (AF) phases, respectively. The isothermal transverse MR is large and negative at low T , and it shows a distinct feature when the P–AFQ line of the B – T phase diagram is crossed. Similarly, the M vs. B curves at low temperatures show upward discontinuities at the phase boundary. Both the features in MR and M at the P–AFQ line correlate well in T , revealing the gradual increase of the T for the onset of AFQ ordering with B . No evidence for reentrant behavior could be observed in fields to 18 T.