摘要
We have applied point-contact spectroscopy(PCS) to investigate the nonmagnetic hidden order(HO) state of the skutterudite compound PrFe_(4)P_(12) with its transition temperature THO~6.5 K. Its point-contact conductance curves exhibit a reproducible gap structure in the HO state below THOand its temperature dependent gap magnitude follows a BCS-like mean-field behavior.A Fano-like conductance shape is observed to emerge below the coherence temperature of PrFe_(4)P_(12). In a magnetic field, the gap feature is gradually suppressed and evolves into a pronounced Fano peak, signaling the heavy fermion state and vividly demonstrating the competition between HO and the formation of heavy fermion states. Our results strongly suggest the itinerant characteristic of f electrons in PrFe_(4)P_(12), which constrains theoretical models to explain the HO mechanism.
基金
supported by National Key R&D Program of China(Grant Nos.2017YFA0303101,and 2016FYA0300402)
the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12174333,and 11674279)
the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11474060)
Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology(Grant Nos.2019SHZDZX01,and 20ZR1405300)
support from the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.LR18A04001)
the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang Province,China(Grant No.2021C01002)。
