Examination of the hybridization gap in CeTX heavy-fermion compounds

ORAL

Abstract

The f-electrons of cerium hybridize with conduction electrons to produce coherent heavy bands at low

temperatures, which dictates the ground state properties of the system. The CeTX series of compounds

(T = transition metal, X = p-block element) in the ZrNiAl structure type have a variety of interesting ground

states. The Ce atoms sit on a distorted kagome lattice. CePdAl illustrates frustrated magnetism, and is a

candidate quantum spin liquid. CeIrSn and CeRhSn are mixed valent metals with large Kondo

temperatures, yet are in close proximity to a quantum critical point with strong Ising anisotropy at low

temperatures. A direct and quantitative probe of the hybridization gap generated by the c-f

hybridization is provided by infrared absorption experiments. Here we present our results from

temperature dependent Fourier-transformed infrared reflection spectroscopic measurements on a series of CeTX

compounds to study the evolution of the conduction band renormalization as a function of the strength

of the c-f hybridization.

*U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division

–

Presenters

  • Thomas U Boehm

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

Authors

  • Thomas U Boehm

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Rohit P Prasankumar

    • a. Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Yu Liu

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Eric D Bauer

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, U.S.A.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA

  • Filip Ronning

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, U.S.A.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA