Synthesis of heavy fermion Ce compound under high pressure

CeCu₆ is well known as a typical heavy fermion compound and prepared at ambient pressure by melting γ-Ce and Cu. We attempted to prepare a new type of CeCu₆ by melting α-Ce and Cu under high pressure using the characteristic pressure-temperature phase diagram of Ce. The samples were prepared at high pressure and high temperature. The electrical resistance and specific heat were measured. It is found that the temperature dependence of the electrical resistance of newly prepared CeCu₆ (α-CeCu₆) shows a similar behavior as CeCu₆ prepared at ambient pressure and high temperature although with a difference at low temperature below 30 K. According to the result of specific heat, it is suggested that α-CeCu₆ is in the heavy fermion state.