High pressure transport and micro-calorimetry studies on quantum phase transitions in Yb heavy fermion systems

We present ac microcalorimetry and resistivity measurements under high pressure on new very pure single crystals of YbCu2Si2 having residual resistivity ratios of up to 130 and residual resistivities of less than 1 μΩcm. The onset of magnetic order at high pressure has been detected by ac micro-calorimetry in a diamond anvil cell, and the phase diagram has been established showing magnetic order appearing at 7.6 GPa and 0.95K, and suggesting a possible quantum critical point at a pressure of about 6.5 GPa. The resistivity has been measured under pressure in hydrostatic conditions, but no sign of superconductivity is found close to the expected critical pressure down to T=0.05 K. We discuss these results in comparison with results on cerium based heavy fermion systems.