Crystal-field spectrum and linewidths in the heavy-fermion system PrInAg{sub 2}

Journal Article · Sat Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.1831· OSTI ID:20215217

Kelley, T M ^[1]; Beyermann, W P ^[1]; Robinson, R A ^[2]; Trouw, F ^[3]; Canfield, P C ^[4]; Nakotte, H ^[5]

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1. Department of Physics, University of California, Riverside, California 92521 (United States)
2. Manuel Lujan, Jr. Neutron Scattering Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
3. Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)
4. Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)
5. Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 (United States)

The heavy-fermion intermetallic compound PrInAg{sub 2} has been studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering. In agreement with a previous study, there is clear evidence from both the excitation energies and relative intensities that the crystal-electric-field ground state is the {gamma}{sub 3} nonmagnetic, non-Kramers doublet, and this, together with enhanced thermodynamic properties at low temperatures, indicates that PrInAg{sub 2} is a candidate quadrupolar Kondo material. In addition to the {gamma}{sub 3}-{gamma}{sub 4} and {gamma}{sub 3}-{gamma}{sub 5} excitations, which are seen at low temperature, we have observed the other two allowed transitions, {gamma}{sub 4}-{gamma}{sub 1} and {gamma}{sub 4}-{gamma}{sub 5}, which are visible when the {gamma}{sub 4} triplet becomes thermally populated. Within the Lea-Leask-Wolf parametrization scheme, we obtain W=-0.111{+-}0.006 meV and x=-0.079{+-}0.037, values that are similar to but slightly different from those previously reported. No magnetic quasielastic scattering is seen, down to {approx}90 {mu}eV, and this provides further evidence that the heavy-fermion behavior is unconventional and has a nonmagnetic origin. However, both the {gamma}{sub 3}-{gamma}{sub 4} and {gamma}{sub 3}-{gamma}{sub 5} levels are broadened significantly and to differing degrees. Possible sources of this broadening are discussed. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.

• OSTI ID: 20215217
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 61; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CRYSTAL FIELD
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INELASTIC SCATTERING
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
KONDO EFFECT
LINE WIDTHS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PRASEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS
SILVER COMPOUNDS