XPS and X-BIS Studies of Gd Monopnictides

Abstract

We have studied the electronic structures of GdX (X: P, As, Sb, Bi) by means of the X-ray photoemission, X-ray bremsstrahlung isochromat and vacuum ultraviolet inverse photoemission spectroscopy. We have found monotonous energy shifts of the Gd 3 d , 4 d and 4 f levels from GdP to GdBi. Such systematic energy shifts are attributed to the reduced crystal field splitting of the Gd 5 d state through GdX. The occupied valence band is dominated by the X p state. The energy shifts of the valence band are found to be much different from those of the Gd-derived states, but consistently interpreted by the band calculation.