YNi4Cu: XPS measurements and electronic structure calculation

Abstract

Abstract The valence band and the core levels of the YNi4Cu compound are studied using the X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The valence band is compared with the theoretical calculation by the spin-polarized Tight Binding Linear Muffin Tin Orbital method. The dominance of the Ni 3d and Cu 3d states down to 5 eV below the Fermi level is found. The modification of the bands’ widths and positions can be well explained by the d–d repulsion model. The Ni 2p and Y 3d peaks resemble the results for pure metals.