Zero thermal expansion in YbGaGe due to an electronic valence transition

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 425; no. 6959; pp. 702 - 705
• Main Authors: Salvador, James R., Guo, Fu, Hogan, Tim, Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.10.2003; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cooling; Electrons; Exact sciences and technology; Germanium; Heating; Humanities and Social Sciences; letter; Low temperature; multidisciplinary; Physics; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silica; Thermal expansion; Thermal expansion; thermomechanical effects; Thermal expansion; thermomechanical effects and density; Thermal properties of condensed matter; Thermal properties of crystalline solids; Thermal expansion; Electrical conductivity; Valence; Ytterbium Germanides; Ternary compounds; Gallium Germanides; Experimental study; Magnetic susceptibility

Most materials expand upon heating. Although rare, some materials expand on cooling, and are said to exhibit negative thermal expansion (NTE); but the property is exhibited in only one crystallographic direction. Such materials include silicon and germanium 1 at very low temperature (<100 K) and,...