Crystal field study of the Kondo compound CePtGa

The Kondo compound CePtGa has been studied by a wide range of techniques. Neutron diffraction data show that CePtGa has the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure. Inelastic neutron scattering spectra display two well-defined crystal held transitions near 18 and 35.6 meV. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show antiferromagnetic ordering at 2.9 K. The temperature dependence of the resistivity can be understood on the basis of Kondo and crystal field effects. The negative magnetoresistance between 1.7 and 60 K agrees well with the scaling form of the J = 1/2 model of Schlottmann. The crystal field parameters have been estimated, and have been used for the analysis of the transport properties.