Abstract
Inelastic-neutron-scattering studies have been carried out on the paramagnetic metallic compound TmSb. The ground-state multiplet is split by the octahedral crystal field into six levels , , , , , . Transitions between these levels have been observed and the parameters meV, meV have been deduced. The fourth-order term is consistent with that expected on the basis of a simple nearest-neighbor point-charge model, whereas the sixth-order term is an order of magnitude too large; this is in marked contrast with previous results in PrSb and other praseodymium pnictides and chalcogenides where the effective-point-charge model is quantitatively correct for both terms. It is found that the actual spectra can be reproduced in detail using ordinary crystal-field theory together with a simple approximation to the instrumental-resolution function. Furthermore, no appreciable exchange broadening of the transitions is observed at low temperatures, thus confirming TmSb as a model crystal-field-only metallic paramagnet.
- Received 6 April 1971
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.4.718
©1971 American Physical Society