Tuning of the magnetic transition temperatures in the single crystals of superconducting (Y,Er)(1-x)TbxNi2B2C

Abstract

The magnetic and superconducting properties in the single crystals of (Y,Er)(1-x)TbxNi2B2C compounds were investigated by temperature-dependent magnetization M(T) and in-plane resistivity rho(ab)(T). It was found that the superconducting transition temperature T-c was suppressed by adding Tb in the sites of Y or Er and it follows well de Gennes scaling for both T-c > T-N and T-c < T-N,. The antiferromagnetic T-N and weak ferromagnetic T-WF transition temperatures showed distinct behaviors in terms of the de Gennes (dG) factor in Y1-xTbxNi2B2C and Er1-xTbxNi2B2C. These observations were discussed under the consideration of magnetic ground states of ErNi2B2C, TbNi2B2C and their interactions. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.