EXPERIMENTAL-EVIDENCE OF A STRONGLY REDUCED ORBITAL MOMENT IN CERH3B2

Magnetic circular X-ray dichroism (MCXD) studies at the Ce-L2,3 and M4 ,5 absorption edges in the CeRh3B2 and CeFe2 compounds are presented. Experiments at the L2.3 edges allow to get information on the 5d magne tism whereas the M4,5 edges witness the behavior of the 4f electrons. It will be shown that in CeRh3B2, the properties of the 4f orbitals ar e between localization and intermediate valence. Values of the magneti c moment on the Ce atom can be estimated from MCXD measurements. The 4 f orbital magnetic moment is found to be strongly reduced by crystal f ield effects as compared to the value expected for fully localized ele ctrons.