ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Probing the Magnetic and Electronic Ground States of CeFe2Al8 through Inelastic Neutron Scattering Studies

Abstract: CeFe2Al8 crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure (space group: Pbam) and their crystallographic details have been studied through Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data [2, 7]. Physical property studies (i.e., temperature dependent magnetization, resistivity and specific heat) show short-range order at 4.9 K for Ce-128 where Ce is found to be mixed valent (in almost equal proportions of Ce3+/4+). It is also intriguing to note that Ce-128 exhibits robust mixed valence state even under a high field of 2T. The motivation for the present study can be attributed to a detailed inelastic neutron scattering (INS) studies on a mixed valence Kondo-lattice, heavy fermion skutterudite compound, CeRu4Sb12 exhibited spin-gap of 47 meV opening in the charge excitation spectrum [1]. Ce-128 also behaves as a Kondo lattice compound, exhibiting mixed valence characteristics, hence making it a fertile ground for investigations using INS studies, even though it is classified as a quasi-skutterudite compound. To understand the magnetic ground state of CeFe2Al8, we propose to carry out temperature dependent inelastic neutron scattering measurements on MERLIN. INS studies are expected to help us to detect low-energy quasielastic scattering from fluctuating Ce moments, and can also help in quantifying the Ce3+/4+ fraction. Temperature dependent INS studies will help in tracking how hybridization affects excitation linewidths and temperature dependence.

Principal Investigator: Dr Sudhindra Rayaprol
Experimenter: Ms Smita Borole
Local Contact: Dr Devashi Adroja
Experimenter: Mr Rohan Kamble
Experimenter: Ms Nilofar Kurawle

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610295

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2610295

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Sudhindra Rayaprol et al; (2026): Probing the Magnetic and Electronic Ground States of CeFe2Al8 through Inelastic Neutron Scattering Studies, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610295

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