CRYSTAL-FIELD STUDY OF THE KONDO COMPOUND CEPTGA

The Kondo compound CePtGa has been studied by a wide range of techniqu es. Neutron diffraction data show that CePtGa has the orthorhombic TiN iSi-type structure. Inelastic neutron scattering spectra display two w ell-defined crystal held transitions near 18 and 35.6 meV. Magnetic su sceptibility measurements show antiferromagnetic ordering at 2.9 K. Th e temperature dependence of the resistivity can be understood on the b asis of Kondo and crystal field effects. The negative magnetoresistanc e between 1.7 and 60 K agrees well with the scaling form of the J = 1/ 2 model of Schlottmann. The crystal field parameters have been estimat ed, and have been used for the analysis of the transport properties.