CE3BI4PT3 AND HYBRIDIZATION GAP PHYSICS

Basic thermodynamic and transport properties of Ce3Bi4Pt3 are reviewed. Although the susceptibility displays a canonical mixed valence temperature dependence, the electrical resistance, thermoelectric power and specific heat are those associated with a small gap semiconductor in which the gap is due to hybridization of the renormalized f and conduction electrons. In addition to this, a surprising correlation between the magnetic susceptibility and the thermal expansion as well as a simple theoretical framework within which hybridization-gapped systems can be viewed are presented.