Magnetic-field tuning of the low-temperature state of YbNiSi₃

We present detailed data from low-temperature magnetization, magnetoresistance, and specific heat measurements on single-crystal YbNiSi₃ with the magnetic field applied along the easy magnetic axis, H‖b. An initially antiferromagnetic ground state changes into a field-stabilized metamagnetic phase at ∼16 kOe (T→0). On further increase of the magnetic field, magnetic order is suppressed at ∼85 kOe. No non-Fermi-liquid-like power law was observed in the resistivity in the vicinity of the critical field for T⩾0.4 K. Heat capacity measurements suggest that the applied magnetic field splits the nearly degenerate crystal-electric-field levels that form the zero-field ground state of YbNiSi₃. The functional behaviors of the resistivity and specific heat are discussed in comparison with those of the few other stoichiometric heavy fermion compounds with established field-induced quantum critical points.