Magnetic properties and thermal expansion of YbGa_xGe_(2-x) (0.9 <= x <= 1.5)

The composition dependence of the Yb valence and of the thermal expansion have been studied in the YbGa$_x$Ge$_{2-x}$ system. X-ray diffraction reveals that single-phased samples isostructural to YbGaGe are obtained in the range of 0.9 <= x <= 1.5. The magnetic susceptibility shows that the systems are almost nonmagnetic below room temperature, indicating a stable Yb2+ state for the x range 0.9 <= x <= 1.5. The lattice constants as well as the lattice volume of these systems are found to decrease monotonically with decreasing temperature, suggesting the absence of zero thermal-expansion previously reported for YbGaGe.