Evidence for the existence of a magnetic quantum critical point in U(Pt1-xPdx)3

We report systematic studies of the DC magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity on a series of U(Pt1-xPdx)(3) polycrystals with 0 less than or equal toxless than or equal to 0.02. Susceptibility measurements show that the spin fluctuation temperature varies linearly with x. Combined with susceptibility data for UPt3 under hydrostatic pressure and (U,Th)Pt-3 we find that T-SF is directly proportional to the c/a ratio in this (nearly) HCP-like system. Detailed studies of the resistivity show that increasing x results in a deviation from Fermi-liquid behavior, and the power-law exponent reaches a minimum value of 1.55 near x approximate to 0.006. These results lend further support to the previously reported magnetic quantum critical point at x approximate to 0.006 as determined via local-probe muSR measurements. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.