RESISTIVITY MINIMUM IN ANTI-FERROMAGNETIC CR-FE ALLOYS

The electrical resistivity of Cr-Fe alloys containing up to 2.6 at. % Fe is measured in detail over the temperature range 0.5 K-340 K. The resistivity of the alloys containing less than 0.6 at. % Fe shows a constant value below about 1.8 K, decreases with increasing temperature in proportion to T2 and exhibits a minimum. The temperature of the minimum depends on c1/3, where c is the concentration of Fe. The resistivity of more concentrated alloys exhibits a minimum and a maximum. The magnetic susceptibility of the alloy containing 1.5 at. % Fe shows a sharp peak just below the temperature where the resistivity maximum takes place. These results suggest that the resistivity minimum in antiferromagnetic Cr-Fe alloys is due to the Kondo effect caused by localized magnetic moments on Fe atoms. The Kondo temperature TK of the alloy containing 0.6 at. % Fe is estimated at about 140 K. © 1979, THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.