Evolution of crystalline electric field effects, superconductivity, and heavy fermion behavior in the specific heat of Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$

Abstract

Specific heat $C(T)$ measurements were made on single crystals of the superconducting filled skutterudite series Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$ down to 0.6 K. Crystalline electric field fits in the normal state produced parameters which were in agreement with previous measurements. Bulk superconductivity was observed for all values of the Ru concentration $x$ with transition temperatures consistent with previous experiments, confirming a minimum in $T_{c}$ at $x=0.6$. The $C(T)$ data below $T_{c}$ appear to be more consistent with power law behavior for $x=0$ (PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$), and with exponential behavior for $0.05 \leq x \leq 0.2$. An enhanced electronic specific heat coefficient $γ$ was observed for $x \leq 0.4$, further supporting $x \simeq 0.6$ as a critical concentration where the physical properties abruptly change. Significant enhancement of $ΔC/T_{c}$ above the weak coupling value was only observed for $x=0$ and $x=0.05$.