Paramagnetic spectral response from the magnetic and “non-magnetic” Ce sites in the compound Ce 2Sn 5

Abstract

Observation of a broad, high-energy Lorentzian-like spectral response centered on the characteristic energy of ∼ 36 (± 3) meV originating from the “non-magnetic” Ce I sites in the compound Ce 2Sn 5 is reported. This supplements earlier findings of two sharp low-energy (< 20 meV) crystal field excitations from the “magnetic” Ce II sites, which are reconfirmed. In addition, observations of two distinct, high-energy spin-orbit excitations, viz., a well-defined peak around ∼ 274 (± 3) meV associated, as expected, with the “magnetic” Ce II atoms and a broad hump centered on ∼ 350 (± 10) meV arising, quite plausibly, from the ‘non-magnetic’ Ce I sites suggest that the characteristic energy T K for the 2 F 7 2 spin-orbit state of Ce I ions is ∼ 75 (± 10) meV, compared with T K ∼ 36 (± 3) meV for its ( 2 F 5 2 ) ground state.