f-State occupancy at the gamma-alpha phase transition of Ce-Th and Ce-Sc alloys.
Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectra were measured for a series of Ce solid solutions (Ce-Th and Ce-Sc) across the gamma-alpha phase transition. They reveal a well-defined feature associated with the 4f2 configuration when the incident energy is tuned to the Ce L3 preedge region. This component is normally hidden in x-ray absorption spectra because of lifetime broadening. The f1/f2 ratio estimated by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering presents a sharp drop across the gamma-alpha transition and hysteresis as a function of temperature that closely resemble the magnetization loop. These measurements confirm recent dynamical mean-field theory calculations that unexpectedly predict significant double occupancy of f orbitals in the ground state.
Laboratoire de Chimie Physique-Matière et Rayonnement (UMR 7614), Université Paris 6, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Cedex 05, France.
J-P
JP
Rueff
C F
CF
Hague
J-M
JM
Mariot
L
L
Journel
R
R
Delaunay
J-P
JP
Kappler
G
G
Schmerber
A
A
Derory
N
N
Jaouen
G
G
Krill