Resistivity, Hall effect and Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in CeNiSn

Abstract

The resistivity and Hall effect in CeNiSn are measured at temperatures down to 35 mK and in magnetic fields up to 20 T with the current applied along the {\it b} axis. The resistivity at zero field exhibits quadratic temperature dependence below $\sim$0.16 K with a huge coefficient of the $T^2$ term (54 $\hat{I}¼$$\hat{I}\text{c◯}$cm/K${}^2$). The resistivity as a function of field shows an anomalous maximum and dip, the positions of which vary with field directions. Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations with a frequency {\it F} of $\sim$100 T are observed for a wide range of field directions in the {\it ac} and {\it bc} planes, and the quasiparticle mass is determined to be $\sim$10-20 {\it m}${}_e$. The carrier density is estimated to be $\sim 10^{-3}$ electron/Ce. In a narrow range of field directions in the {\it ac} plane, where the magnetoresistance-dip anomaly manifests itself clearer than in other field directions, a higher-frequency ($F=300\sim 400\text{T}$) SdH oscillation is found at high fields above the anomaly. This observation is discussed in terms of possible field-induced changes in the electronic structure.

15 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B (15 Sept. 2002 issue)