CRYSTALLINE ELECTRIC-FIELD EFFECTS IN CECD11 AND PRCD11

A simultaneous analysis of the low temperature heat capacity, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility of CeCd11 has been carried out on the basis of crystalline electric fields (CEF) acting on the Ce3+ ion. The ground multiplet level (F-2(5/2)) of the Ce3+ ion splits into three doublets under the influence of a CEF of tetragonal symmetry. Detailed analysis yields an overall splitting of almost-equal-to 70 K with the intermediate doublet lying at an energy separation of almost-equal-to 16 K from the ground doublet. Two sets of CEF parameters are obtained from this analysis which equally fit all the experimental observations in the low temperature range investigated. Experimental results on the heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility of PrCd11 are also presented and analyzed in the same manner using CEF parameters derived from those of CeCd11.