Lattice anomalies in CeNi unstable valence compound

Neutron diffraction and X-ray absorption measurements have been performed to study the changes in the structure and the Ce valence between 10 K and 295 K. No evidence for a phase transition was obtained, but some nearest-neighbour distances have clear peculiarities in the temperature range of 100 K to 150 K. The valence of Ce increases continuously with decreasing temperature, which can explain neither the lattice anomalies nor the previously observed temperature dependence of the phonon frequencies. A correlation between the gap-like magnetic excitation spectrum formed at low temperatures and observed lattice anomalies is discussed. (orig.)