2016/12/12 by R.M. Galéra, Galéra, R. M., Christine Opagiste +9
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Magnetic Properties of Alloys #Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Rare-earth and actinide compounds #Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1612.03681
openalex publication_date 2016/12/12 · openalex created_date 2017/01/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The crystalline electric field (CEF) is investigated in Pr3Pt23Si11 and Nd3Pt23Si11 by neutron spectroscopy (NS). At low temperature, the number of observed CEF excitations is consistent with the orthorhombic symmetry at the rare earth site. This agrees with previous results on Ce3Pt23Si11. For Pr- and Nd3Pt23Si11, the number of CEF parameters is too large to allow for an unambiguous determination. This determination is possible for Ce3Pt23Si11, due to a reduced number of parameters and to the availability of extensive experimental data. A specific procedure is developed for this purpose that combines genetic algorithmics and optimization methods. An unique set of CEF parameters is found for Ce3Pt23Si11. It reveals a strong anisotropy at the orthorhombic site, responsible for an easy threefold magnetization axis in the cubic system. Using a microscopic, mean-field, description, the magnetization processes in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases of Ce3Pt23Si11 are well reproduced. Ce3Pt23Si11 is shown to realize a model for systems where conflicting anisotropies are forced to cooperate.