2013/01/10 by Ignace Jarrige, Hitoshi Yamaoka, H. Yamaoka +20 · 52 citations
Chemistry · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Absorption spectroscopy #Atomic physics #Chemical physics #Chemistry #Condensed matter physics #Electron #Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds #Iron-based superconductors research #Materials science #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Rare-earth and actinide compounds #Valence (chemistry) #Valence electron #cond-mat.str-el
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.87.115107
published in Physical Review B 87(11) (American Physical Society)
arxiv created 2013/01/10 · openalex publication_date 2013/03/06 · arxiv updated 2015/06/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Valence instability is a key ingredient of the unusual properties of f electron materials, yet a clear understanding is lacking as it involves a complex interplay between f electrons and conduction states. Here we propose a unified picture of pressure-induced valence transition in Sm and Yb monochalcogenides, considered as a model system for mixed valent 4f-electron materials. Using high-resolution x-ray-absorption spectroscopy, we show that the valence transition is driven by the promotion of a 4f electron specifically into the lowest unoccupied (LU) 5d t2g band. We demonstrate with a promotional model that the nature of the transition at low pressures is intimately related to the density of states of the LU band, while at high pressures it is governed by the hybridization strength.