2012/05/09 by T. Willers, Thomas Willers, F. Strigari +14
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Anisotropy #Atomic physics #Condensed matter physics #Crystal (programming language) #Dipole #Electron #Field (mathematics) #Geometry #Ground state #High-pressure geophysics and materials #Ideal (ethics) #Inelastic neutron scattering #Inelastic scattering #Law #Magnetic Properties of Alloys #Orientation (vector space) #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Rare-earth and actinide compounds #Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering #Scattering #Tetragonal crystal system #cond-mat.str-el
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.109.046401
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 046401 (2012)
arxiv created 2012/05/09 · openalex publication_date 2012/07/23 · arxiv updated 2012/08/15 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We have successfully determined the hitherto unknown sign of the B(4)(4) Stevens crystal-field parameter of the tetragonal heavy-fermion compound CeCu(2)Si(2) using vector q-dependent nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments at the cerium N(4,5) edge. The observed difference between the two different directions, q∥[100] and q∥[110], is due to the anisotropy of the crystal-field ground state in the (001) plane and is observable only because of the utilization of higher than dipole transitions possible in nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering. This approach allows us to go beyond the specific limitations of dc magnetic susceptibility, inelastic neutron scattering, and soft x-ray spectroscopy, and provides us with a reliable information about the orbital state of the 4f electrons relevant for the quantitative modeling of the quasiparticles and their interactions in heavy-fermion systems.