Neutron scattering studies on CeRhSb and PrTSb (T=Rh and Pd) compounds

Inelastic neutron scattering studies have been carried out on the Kondo ins ulator CeRhSb as well as on PrTSb (T=Rh and Pd) compounds. The low energy n eutron scattering spectra of CeRhSb at 2 K show no clear evidence of a gap type excitation. The high energy inelastic spectra of CeRhSb show a broad e xcitation centered about 35 meV, which is a characteristic of a Ce-based va lence fluctuating compound. Inelastic spectra of PrRhSb show a presence of broad crystal field (CF) excitations with over-all crystal field splitting of 25 meV. On the other hand well-defined crystal field excitations corresp onding to the 4f(2) configuration of the Pr3+ ion have been observed in PrP dSb. The crystal field parameters have been estimated from an analysis of i nelastic neutron scattering data of PrPdSb. Analysis shows that the ground state of the Pr3+ ion is a crystal field doubler in this compound. The heat capacity calculated from the CF parameters suggests that the observed peak at 8 K in the heat capacity of PrPdSb is due to the magnetic ordering. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.