Published November 1, 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

Lattice dynamics and anomalous softening in the YbFe4Sb12 skutterudite

  • 1. Julich Center for Neutron Science, Julich (Germany)
  • 2. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble (France)
  • 3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN (United States)
  • 4. Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi (Georgia)
  • 5. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  • 6. Forschungszentrum Julich, Julich (Germany)

Description

The lattice dynamics of the filled skutterudite YbFe4Sb12 was studied by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy and an anomalous softening in the temperature dependence of the elastic constants at ∼50 K was observed. This anomaly can not be explained by the dynamics of the filler, in contrast to other filled skutterudites. We have further investigated the origin of this anomaly using macroscopic and microscopic measurements. A rearrangement of the spectral weight of the Yb phonon states was observed in the temperature dependence of the density of phonon states, obtained by inelastic neutron scattering. We suggest that the anomaly is due to a change of the Yb valence state and that the anomaly and the phonon spectral weight rearrangement have the same origin.

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Journal Volume
84
Journal Issue
18
Journal Page Range
p. 184306
ISSN
1098-0121

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
43023931
Subject category
S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
Descriptors DEI
NEUTRONS; ORIGIN; PHONONS; SCATTERING; SPECTROSCOPY; TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE; VALENCE
Descriptors DEC
BARYONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; FERMIONS; HADRONS; NUCLEONS; QUASI PARTICLES

Optional Information

Contract/Grant/Project number
KC0202020; ERKCS82; AC05-00OR22725
Notes
9 pages; doi 10.1103/PhysRevB.84.184306
Funding organization
SC USDOE - Office of Science (United States)