Superconducting and Ferromagnetic Properties of Pr_xCe_1−xRu₂

Abstract

The specific heat of Pr_xCe_1−xRu₂ (0.0≤x≤0.4) were measured from 1.3 to 20 K. The effective electron-electron interaction in BCS theory decreases monotonically with increasing x. The increase of the superconducting transition temperature for low Pr concentrations depends mainly on the increase of the γ value. The magnetic contribution to the specific heat was observed for x≥0.2. The transition to the superconducting state becomes broad abruptly beyond x=0.3, which is related to the magnetic ordering of Pr. The magnetic properties were measured for 0.0≤x≤1.0. Praseodymium possesses the magnetic moment of 3.57 μ_B for all alloys. This value is very close to that of Pr³⁺. In this alloy system the magnetic interaction destroys the superconductivity before the ferromagnetism occurs.