Magnetic transport and neutron scattering studies on ternary equiatomic compound:CePdGa

Magnetic, transport and neutron scattering measurements have been carried out on the ternary equiatomic compound, CePdGa. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that CePdGa crystallizes in the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure. The magnetic susceptibility displays a Curie-Weiss behaviour between 300 and 180K but deviates from it below 180K, due to the crystalline electric field (CEF) splittings. The resistivity and thermoelectric power results also indicate the presence of the CEF. Inelastic neutron scattering spectra show two well defined crystal field transitions at 18.9meV and 33.8meV. An analysis is presented of the susceptibility data on the basis of a CEF model, and of the TEP data on the basis of a Kondo plus CEF model. (orig.)