Effects of V concentration on the physical properties of Cr_1−xAl_x alloy system

Electrical resistivity (ρ), magnetic susceptibility (χ) and thermoelectric power (S) studies reported previously on the (Cr_1-x Al_x)₉₉V₁ alloy system indicate a suppression of antiferromagnetism in the concentration range 0.015 ≤ x ≤ 0.040. The present study incorporates Sommerfeld electronic specific heat coefficient (γ), thermal conductivity (κ), Hall coefficient (R _H) and analyses of the previous results in order to have a comprehensive study of the alloy system. γ(x) depicts two peaks close to the same concentrations where dS/dT|_T→2K(x) have minima, i.e. at x _c1 ≈ 0.015 and x _c2 ≈ 0.040. Such peaks and minima, respectively, have been considered as key signatures of quantum criticality (QC) in alloys of Cr. Evidence of band structure modification in the alloy system is shown by a change of slope in the Nordheim-Gorter (N-G) relationship showing a minimum at an extrapolated concentration x = 0.035. The slope is positive for the incommensurate (I) spin-density-wave (SDW) alloys with x < 0.035 and a negative for the commensurate (C) SDW alloys with x > 0.035. A behaviour reminiscent of changes in the band structure is also observed in the Lorenz number, L(x), for the alloy with x = 0. R _H(T) results in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.026 have a sharp increase in the charge carrier density, n _2K = [qR _H(2k)]⁻¹, at the ISDW to paramagnetic (P) phase transition. The concentrations x = 0.015 and x = 0.040 are therefore considered ISDW to P and P to CSDW quantum critical points, respectively.