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By studying the thermal conductivity, specific heat, elastic modulus, and thermal expansion as a function of temperature for Cd3As2, we have unveiled a couple of important thermodynamic features of the low-energy phonons strongly interacting with Dirac electrons. The existence of soft optical phonons, as inferred from the extremely low thermal conductivity, is unambiguously confirmed by low-temperature specific heat revealing significant deviation from Debye’s description. The estimated Debye temperature is small in the range of 100–200 K and varies significantly depending upon the measurement used in its experimental determination. The thermodynamic Grüneisen ratio γ reveals a remarkable reduction below about 100 K, an energy scale that is highly relevant to the Dirac states, towards negative values below about 10 K that are indicative of lattice instability.

CePdAl has been recently recognized as a frustrated antiferromagnetic heavy-fermion compound with a pressure- or field-tuned, extended quantum critical phase at zero temperature. Identifying characteristic signatures of the emerging quantum critical phase, which are expected to be distinct from those near a quantum critical point, remains challenging. In this work, by performing ultrasonic and thermoelectric measurements down to very low temperatures in a 3He–4He dilution refrigerator in the presence of magnetic field, we are able to obtain some crucial thermodynamic and thermal transport features of the quantum critical phase, including a frustration-related elastic softening detected by ultrasound and a Fermi-surface change probed by thermoelectric effect.

Needle-like single crystals of CeAu2In4 have been grown from In flux and characterized as a new candidate of quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice compound by crystallographic, magnetic, transport, and specific-heat measurements down to very low temperatures. We observe an antiferromagnetic transition at T N ≈ 0.9 K, a highly non-mean-field profile of the corresponding peak in specific heat, and a large Sommerfeld coefficient γ = 369 mJ⋅mol−1⋅K−2. The Kondo temperature T K is estimated to be 1.1 K, being low and comparable to T N. While Fermi liquid behavior is observed deep into the magnetically ordered phase, the Kadowaki–Woods ratio is much reduced relative to the expected value for Ce compounds with Kramers doublet ground state. Markedly, this feature shares striking similarities to that of the prototypical quasi-one-dimensional compounds YbNi4P2 and CeRh6Ge4 with tunable ferromagnetic quantum critical point. Given the shortest Ce–Ce distance along the needle direction, CeAu2In4 appears to be an interesting model system for exploring antiferromagnetic quantum critical behaviors in a quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice with enhanced quantum fluctuations.

An all permanent magnet Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source-LAPECR1U (Lanzhou All Permanent magnet ECR ion source no.1 Upgraded), has been built at IMP in 2017 to satisfy the requirements of LEAF (Low Energy intense-highly-charged ion Accelerator Facility) for first two years commissioning. LAPECR1U was designed to be operated at 14.5 GHz to produce intense low and medium charge state ion beams. LAPECR1U features a compact structure, small size, and low cost. A cone-shape iron yoke in injection side and an iron plasma electrode in extraction side were used to enhance the axial magnetic field strength. The typical parameters and the preliminary beam results of the source are given in this paper.

The ion beams extracted from an Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source always exist strong transverse coupling effect that is caused by the field of the axis mirror magnets and the extraction solenoid. In order to obtain the four-dimensional (4D) characteristic matrix with coupling elements, a Pepper Pot probe was developed and used to obtain the full 4D transverse phase space distribution of the low energy beam extracted from the ECR ion source at IMP. This paper describes the detailed design and image processing procedure of Pepper Pot probe, especially the analysis results verification compared to another type emittance meter. The first 4D transverse phase space distribution measurement data of oxygen beams from the LECR4 experimental platform are presented and discussed.

Kondo semimetal CeRu4Sn6 is attracting renewed attention due to the theoretically predicted nontrivial topology in its electronic band structure. We report hydrostatic and chemical pressure effects on the transport properties of single- and poly-crystalline samples. The electrical resistivity ρ(T) is gradually enhanced by applying pressure over a wide temperature range from room temperature down to 25 mK. Two thermal activation gaps estimated from high- and low-temperature windows are found to increase with pressure. A flat ρ(T) observed at the lowest temperatures below 300 mK appears to be robust against both pressure and field. This feature as well as the increase of the energy gaps calls for more intensive investigations with respect to electron correlations and band topology.

The electrical and structural properties of C60/Sb bilayers were investigated. In situ direct-current conductivity measurement results indicate that the doping of Sb into C60 induces the C60 order-disorder phase transition temperature to increase to ~278 K. According to the results of a transmission electron microscope and atomic force microscope study, such a transition (near 278 K) implies the formation of an interfacial structure of Sb-doped C60. Annealing and the absorption of gases destroy the interfacial structure of Sb-doped C60. A possible mechanism for such a phase transition is discussed.