YbCo2: Large magnetic entropy change per volume in Yb-based metallic magnetic refrigerants for sub-Kelvin temperature

Y Yasuyuki Shimura (Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,) R Ryoma Yokoo (Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,) K Kanta Watanabe (Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,) H Hiroto Furuie (Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,) N Naohito Tsujii (Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) 2 , 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047,) K Kazunori Umeo (Department of Low Temperature Experiment, Integrated Experimental Support/Research Division, N-BARD, Hiroshima University 3 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526,) T Takahiro Onimaru (Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,)

Abstract

A Yb-based intermetallic compound YbCo2 exhibiting a magnetic-field-induced order is known to show a giant specific heat divided by temperature, C/T∼ 6.5 J/K2 mol, around 0.3 K. We investigate the potential of this substance as the magnetic refrigerants by measuring the thermodynamic properties down to 0.1 K. The entropy change per volume by applying magnetic field of 3 T is found to be −ΔSM∼ 0.15 J/K cm3 around 1 K. This value is particularly large in the Yb-based metallic magnetic refrigerants to provide the sub-Kelvin temperature. In addition, we demonstrate that a 2.2 g sample is cooled down to 0.26 K by the adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration from 1.8 K and 12 T. This cooling performance is attributed to the ground state, at zero field, locating around the boundary between the field-induced ordered phase and the paramagnetic one. Our study clarifies the utility of the sub-Kelvin magnetic refrigerants, which combine the large −ΔSM and the high thermal conductivity of metal.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 10
Published September 08, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

Y

Yasuyuki Shimura

Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,

R

Ryoma Yokoo

Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,

K

Kanta Watanabe

Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,

H

Hiroto Furuie

Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,

N

Naohito Tsujii

Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) 2 , 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047,

K

Kazunori Umeo

Department of Low Temperature Experiment, Integrated Experimental Support/Research Division, N-BARD, Hiroshima University 3 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526,

T

Takahiro Onimaru

Department of Quantum Matter, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1 , Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530,