Low-temperature properties in dilute quadrupolar compound Pr xLa1-xInAg2

The low-temperature properties of Pr_xLa_1-xInAg ₂ have been studied for a wide concentration range of Pr ions between 0 ≤ x ≤ 0:6. The susceptibility above T = 15K is well reproduced by the crystalelectric-field level scheme with a non-Kramers Γ3 doublet in the ground state for each concentration, while that below T = 15K shows a non-Fermi-liquid behavior with a logarithmic temperature dependence. The temperature dependence of the specific heat C/T shows a monotonic enhancement below T = 10 K, which can be scaled by a characteristic temperature T* defined at each concentration. These results suggest that the anomalous low-temperature properties are understood as the single-ion nature of Γ3 quadrupolar moments. The origin of the anomalous properties is discussed in connection with the quadrupolar Kondo effect arising from the correlation between the Γ3 moments and the conduction electrons.