Transport properties of CeSb

Abstract

Resistivity, magnetoresistivity and Hall effect measurements on CeSb single crystals have been investigated as a function of temperature T and magnetic fields H in the range 4.2<T<40K, up to 14 KG. Singularities in the resistivity curves rho (T) are observed at the various temperatures at which magnetic transitions occur. The curves d rho /dT are found to be quite similar to the specific heat curves at the same magnetic fields. No significant variation in the carrier concentration has been observed across the phase transitions which are then specifically magnetic in nature. In the paramagnetic region the results can be interpreted in terms of elastic plus inelastic magnetic diffusion of the carriers by spin fluctuations. A very good quantitative agreement with experiment is obtained provided that the ground state is the Gamma 7 doublet, with a numerical value of the splitting energy between Gamma 7 and Gamma 8 levels Delta =28.5K. This result agrees with previous data on magnetic properties but conflicts with recent polarised neutron measurements.