Crystal-Field Interactions in RPd_2Al_3 Intermetallics (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, and U)

Abstract

Magnetic and electronic properties of NdPd2Al3 have been nicely described with the Nd 3+ ions within the crystal-eld theory revealing that all Nd atoms equally contribute to the temperature dependence of the paramagnetic susceptibility and of the heat capacity with the λ-peak. We consistently described paramagnetic and magnetically-ordered state. The ne electronic structure of the Nd 3+ ion nicely correlates with the electronic structure of the U 3+ ion in UPd2Al3 giving strong evidence for the trivalent uranium state in the isostructural heavy-fermion superconductor UPd2Al3.

Three Localized f Electrons in UPd2Al3and in UGe2Intermetallics

“…3, reveals the λ-type peak at the transition to the ferromagnetic state at 52 K. For details of our calculations of the magnetic specific heat please see our earlier papers [12,20,21,23,24,29,30]. It is worth noting that we describe c mag (T ) in the wide temperature range in the same consistent approach.…”

“…Finally, in Table II we have compared the derived CEF parameters of UPd 2 Al 3 with those derived for hexagonal (isostructural) compounds UGa 2 [21], NdPd 2 Al 3 [23], and NdNi 5 [24]. This latter compound can be considered as NdNi 2 Ni 3 .…”