Gd3+-ESR in the intermediate valent cerium alloys Ce1?xYxPd3, Ce(Pd1?xRhx)3 and Ce(Pd1?xAgx)3

Abstract

In the intermediate valent cerium alloys Ce1−xYxPd3, Ce(Pd1−xRhx)3 and Ce(Pd1−xAgx)3 the Gd3+-ESR shows a non-linear increase of the linewidth ΔH(T) in the temperature range 4.2K≦T≦300K. The deviation from the linear Korringa law can be described by a reduced conduction electron density of states at the Gd site (which is a Ce lattice site) in the energy range ΔE4f (=width of the Ce 4f states). This supposition allows a determination of ΔE4f from the ΔH(T)-data. For CePd3:Gd3+ we find ΔE4f=(650±100) K. ΔE4f increases with Y- and Rh-concentration and decreases with Ag-concentration.