Pressure-induced valence change in YbAl[subscript 3]: A combined high-pressure inelastic x-ray scattering and theoretical investigation

Journal Article · Wed Sep 17 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Phys. Rev. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.78.075117· OSTI ID:1006823

Kumar, Ravhi S; Svane, Axel; Vaitheeswaran, G; Kanchana, V; Bauer, Eric D; Hu, Michael; Nicol, Malcolm F; Cornelius, Andrew L ^[1]

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1. Aarhus

High-resolution x-ray-absorption (XAS) experiments in the partial fluorescence yield mode (PFY) and resonant inelastic x-ray emission (RXES) measurements were performed on the intermediate-valence compound YbAl{sub 3} under pressure of up to 38 GPa. The results of the YbAl{sub 3} PFY-XAS and RXES studies show that the valence of Yb increases smoothly from 2.75 at ambient pressure to 2.93 at 38 GPa. In situ angle-dispersive synchrotron high-pressure x-ray-diffraction experiments carried out using a diamond cell at room temperature show that the ambient pressure cubic phase is stable up to 40 GPa. The results obtained from self-interaction corrected local spin density-functional calculations to understand the pressure effect on the Yb valence and compressibility are in good agreement with the experimental results.

• Research Organization: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1006823
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B, Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B Journal Issue: 2008 Vol. 78; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
COMPRESSIBILITY
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL METHOD
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
PRESSURE RANGE GIGA PA
SPIN
VALENCE
VARIATIONS
YTTERBIUM ALLOYS