Bandstructure, Fermi surface and superconductivity of Pr under high pressure

The electronic bandstructures of rare earth metal Praseodymium (Pr) have been calculated for a wide range of static pressures using RAPW method. The density of states and Fermi surface cross sections on the principal planes corresponding to various pressures are obtained. It is seen that, there is, 4f shell breakdown in Pr under pressure and formation of 4f bands. The calculation of the superconducting transition temperatures Tsub(c) corresponding to various pressures shows that Pr may become a high pressure superconductor like Cerium eventhough it is not observed experimentally to be a superconductor because of its magnetic character at normal pressure. (orig.)