We have investigated the noncentrosymmetric tetragonal heavy-fermion antiferromagnetic compound CeCuAl3 (T(N)=2.5 K) using inelastic neutron scattering (INS). Our INS results unequivocally reveal the presence of three magnetic excitations centered at 1.3, 9.8, and 20.5 meV. These spectral features cannot be explained within the framework of crystal-electric-field models and recourse to Kramers' theorem for a 4f(1) Ce(3+) ion. To overcome these interpretational difficulties, we have generalized the vibron model of Thalmeier and Fulde for cubic CeAl(2) to tetragonal point-group symmetry with the theoretically calculated vibron form-factor. This extension provides a satisfactory explanation for the position and intensity of the three observed magnetic excitations in CeCuAl3, as well as their dependence on momentum transfer and temperature. On the basis of our analysis, we attribute the observed series of magnetic excitations to the existence of a vibron quasibound state.

We have investigated the noncentrosymmetric tetragonal heavy fermion compound CeAuAl 3 using muon spin rotation (μSR), neutron diffraction (ND), and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. We have also revisited the magnetic, transport, and thermal properties. The magnetic susceptibility reveals an antiferromagnetic transition at 1.1 K with, possibly, another magnetic transition near 0.18 K. The heat capacity shows a sharp λ-type anomaly at 1.1 K in zero field, which broadens and moves to a higher temperature in an applied magnetic field. Our zero-field μSR and ND measurements confirm the existence of a long-range magnetic ground state below 1.2 K. Further, the ND study reveals an incommensurate magnetic order with a magnetic propagation vector k = (0,0,0.52(1)) and a spiral structure of Ce moments coupled ferromagnetically within the ab plane. Our INS study reveals the presence of two well-defined crystal electric field (CEF) excitations at 5.1 and 24.6 meV in the paramagnetic phase of CeAuAl 3 that can be explained on the basis of the CEF theory and the Kramer's theorem for a Ce ion having a 4f 1 electronic state. Furthermore, low energy quasielastic excitations show a Gaussian line shape below 30 K compared to a Lorentzian line shape above 30 K, indicating a slowdown of spin fluctuations below 30 K. We have estimated a Kondo temperature of T K = 3.5 K from the quasielastic linewidth, which is in good agreement with that estimated from the heat capacity. This study also indicates the absence of any CEF-phonon coupling unlike that observed in isostructural CeCuAl 3 The CEF parameters, energy level scheme, and their wave functions obtained from the analysis of INS data explain satisfactorily the single crystal susceptibility in the presence of two-ion anisotropic exchange interaction in CeAuAl 3 .

The magnetostrictive stress for a Ho6/Y6 superlattice has been determined at low temperatures by means of a capacitive cantilever technique. The magnetostrictive stress responsible for the basal plane distortion is found to be strongly enhanced with respect to bulk holmium. An explanation accounting for the unusual thermal dependence of that stress is offered. PACS numbers: 75.50.Rr, 75.80.+q Magnetic rare-earth superlattices are a subject of great current interest [1 -7]. Two features are remarkable in