V H Tran et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 485701 doi:10.1088/0953-8984/21/48/485701
V H Tran1, A D Hillier2, D T Adroja2, Z Bukowski3 and W Miiller1
Show affiliationsUsing muon spin relaxation (μSR) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) we have investigated the normal state of the superconductor Mo3Sb7 and the reference compound Ru3Sn7. The μSR experiments on Ru3Sn7 reveal static and relatively slow dynamic relaxations, which are ascribed to a random static nuclear dipole field and thermally activated muon motion, respectively. INS experiments on Ru3Sn7, on the other hand, reveal three phononic excitations at 11, 18 and 23 meV, substantiating the assertion of Einstein and Debye oscillations derived from the specific heat and electrical resistivity data. The distinct difference in the μSR as well as INS spectra between Ru3Sn7 and Mo3Sb7 provides strong evidence for a magnetic/electronic nature of the phase transition at T* = 50 K in the Mo-based compound. On the basis of the μSR and INS data, the energy spin pseudogap of 150(10) K was estimated. The observed weak magnetism in the dynamic susceptibility χ''(Q,ω) and residual longitudinal field relaxation at 5 K imply a static ordering or quantum fluctuations.
74.70.Ad Metals; alloys and binary compounds (including A15, MgB2, etc.)
76.75.+i Muon spin rotation and relaxation
74.25.Fy Transport properties (electric and thermal conductivity, thermoelectric effects, etc.)
Issue 48 (2 December 2009)
Received 26 April 2009, in final form 6 October 2009
Published 30 October 2009
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