Elastic constants of borocarbides. New approach to acoustic measurement technique

Abstract

A new version of the phase method of determining the sound velocity is proposed and implemented. It utilizes the “Nonius” measurement technique and can give acceptable accuracy (⩽1%) in samples of submillimeter size. Measurements of the sound velocity are made in single-crystal samples of the borocarbides RNi2B2C (R=Y, Lu, Ho). The elastic constants and the Debye temperature are calculated.