Abstract
A theory is developed for the line width of crystal-field excitations in metallic rare-earth systems were the damping is due to conduction electron-hole excitations. First the single ion or dilute alloy case is studied. As an example the theory is applied to Ce in LaAl2 and compared with recent experiments. Then the case of a regular lattice of rare-earth ions is considered. The theory is applied to theΓ 1 –Γ 4 system. Special attention is paid to the behaviour of the central peak near an induced-moment phase transition. It is shown that the dynamics of the conduction electrons leads to observable effects in the centralpeak intensity and can not be neglected as it is usually done. The theoretical predictions are in agreement with recent experimental findings on Pr3Tl.
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Becker, K.W., Fulde, P. & Keller, J. Line width of crystal-field excitations in metallic rare-earth systems. Z Physik B 28, 9–18 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01313943
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01313943