Electronic structure and ESR in GdTAl ternary compounds; T=3d, 4d transition metals

Ternary GdT aluminides were obtained with the use of an are furnace and the Czochralski method with levitated melt. The X-ray diffraction examination showed a variety of crystallographic structures depending on the transition metal involved. The XPS investigation of all these compounds revealed the importance of the transition metal d states in the formation of valence ban ds. The ESR measurements were performed at the paramagnetic state at temper atures above the ordering temperature. In all cases the relaxation rate bet ween the localised Gd 4f magnetic moment system and the conduction electron system reflected the contribution of the d-type electrons to the density o f states at the Fermi lever. The different mechanisms of the opening of bot tleneck existing in these compounds were observed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.