Valence fluctuation in YbAgCu at high Magnetic fields

Matsuda, Yasuhiro*; Nakamura, Toshiyuki*; Her, J.-L.*; Kindo, Koichi*; Michimura, Shinji*; Inami, Toshiya; Mizumaki, Masaichiro*; Kawamura, Naomi*; Suzuki, Motohiro*; Chen, B.*; Ota, Hiroto*; Yoshimura, Kazuyoshi*

The valence change of Yb ion in YbAgCu was measured by means of X-ray absorption spectroscopy under high magnetic fields up to 35T. The valence state of Yb in YbAgCu at 4.8K significantly increases at the metamagnetic transition. The saturation value of at 55T is evaluated as 2.97 using the relation at 35T. This value is in good agreement with for the related compound YbInCu at high temperatures and the Yb valence in the localized high-field phase. We conclude that the metamagnetic transition in YbAgCu arises from the valence transition, as theoretically predicted.