Neutron inelastic scattering study of the -electron states in NdPdAl

Metoki, Naoto   ; Yamauchi, Hiroki   ; Suzuki, Hiroyuki*; Kitazawa, Hideaki*; Kamazawa, Kazuya*; Ikeuchi, Kazuhiko*; Kajimoto, Ryoichi  ; Nakamura, Mitsutaka   ; Inamura, Yasuhiro  

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were carried out in order to study the -electron states of NdPdAlThe CEF levels at 0K, 35.4K, 88.3K, 101.5K, and 198.8K were clarified from the excitation spectra. The ground state contains the orbital with as a main component due to a large negative BK, which is the origin of the strong uniaxial anisotropy. The estimated magnetic moment, the calculated susceptibility, magnetization curve, and specific heat are in good agreement with the experimental data. The existence of a common charge distribution with CePdAl and PrPdAl. Indicates that a localized character is important even in actinide-based iso-structural compounds as actually observed in UPdAl and also NpPdAl, in which the valence crossover plays important role for the heavy fermion superconductivity.