CRYSTAL-FIELD POTENTIAL OF NDCU2SI2 - A COMPARISON WITH CECU2SI2

The results of an inelastic neutron scattering investigation of the crystal field potential of NdCu2Si2 are reported. We have observed three ground state and three excited state transitions which establish unambiguously the crystal field level scheme with an overall splitting of 11.45 meV. By performing a profile refinement of the measured spectra we have determined the Hamiltonian parameters for the tetragonal crystal field: B-2(0) = (-3.1 +/- 0.1 ) x 10(-2) meV. B-4(0) = (1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(-3) meV, B-4(4) = (1.33 +/- 0.04) x 10(-3) meV, B-6(0) = (-3.17 +/- 0.04) x 10(-5) meV and B-6(4) = (6.62 +/- 0.02) x 10(-4) meV. The parameters are analysed in terms of Newman's superposition model and compared to recent results on the isostructural heavy fermion compound CeCu2Si2.