Electronic and magnetic properties of heavy fermion CeCu₄Al

Abstract

The studies of the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, electrical resistivity, x-ray photoemission spectra (XPS) and the band structure calculations for CeCu4Al are reported. CeCu4Al is paramagnetic and follows the Curie?Weiss law with ?eff = 2.53??B/f.u. and ?p = ?10?K. The experimental value of ?eff is close to the calculated one for a free Ce3+ ion (2.54??B), thus indicating the presence of well-localized magnetic moments carried by the stable Ce3+ ions. Below the Fermi energy the total density of states contains mainly the d states of Cu atoms, which hybridize with the Ce f electronic states. The analysis of the Ce 3d and 4d XPS spectra indicates the localized character of the Ce f states. The determined electronic specific heat coefficient ? = 210?mJ?K?2?mol?1 confirms the heavy fermion character of the CeCu4Al compounds.