MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC QUADRUPOLAR ANOMALIES IN PRCU2SI2

There is an abnormal enhancement of the Neel temperature (T(N) congruent-to 21 K) and spin-disorder resistivity beyond that expected on the basis of de Gennes scaling in PrCu2Si2. While the electric quadrupole alignment is known to be the driving force for the moderate breakdown of this scaling in homologous heavy rare-earth members, such a mechanism is not applicable to PrCu2Si2. Contrary to the behaviour in heavy rare earths, there is no distinct anomaly in the temperature-dependent lattice constants in this compound as if the electric quadrupole moment of Pr is quenched. Thus, this compound is shown to exhibit novel magnetic and quadrupolar behaviour.