Electronic structure and magnetic properties of CeNiSb

Abstract

We have investigated the electronic structure and magnetic properties of CeNiSb, ${\mathrm{CeNi}}_{0.9}{\mathrm{Rh}}_{0.1}\mathrm{Sb},$ and ${\mathrm{CeNiSb}}_{0.9}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{0.1}.$ The $3d$ and $4d$ x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) spectra indicate a stable configuration of the f shell. This is in agreement with susceptibility measurements which indicate an effective moment nearly equal to that of trivalent Ce. Analysis of the ${4d}^{9}{f}^{2}$ weight in the $3d$ XPS spectra using Gunnarsson-Sch\"onhammer theory suggests a hybridization interaction \ensuremath{\Delta} of about 50 meV. The hybridization is smaller than that of the Kondo insulating compound CeRhSb. The Curie temperature ${T}_{C}$ increases with applied pressure P and is discussed within the framework of the Doniach phase diagram. The experimental results indicate the influence of the number of free electrons in the unit cell on the magnetic behavior of ternary Ce intermetallic compounds.