Abstract
We have measured the thermal variation of the quadrupole hyperfine interaction in the non-superconducting tetragonal borocarbides YbNi 2B 2C and YbNiBC over the temperature range from 20 to 1000 K using the 172Yb perturbed angular correlations technique. The observed variations are due to the changes in the 4f shell contribution to the electric field gradient at the 172Yb nucleus which are related to the thermal dependent populations of the crystal electric field levels of the Yb 3+ 2F 7/2 ground state. In YbNiBC, we determine the complete Yb 3+ crystal field level scheme and we confirm that any hybridisation between the 4f and band electrons is weak. In YbNi 2B 2C, the electric field gradient does show a thermal dependence, thus evidencing the presence of crystal-field levels, but the total variation is relatively small. We consider this result in terms of the combined influence of the crystal field and 4f-conduction band hybridisation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
