Neutron crystal-field spectroscopy and susceptibility in Ersub(c)Ysub(1-c)Al2

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments and susceptibility measurements have been carried out on polycrystalline Er c Y 1-c Al 2 . A least-squares fitting procedure has been applied to the neutron data which favours four sets of crystal-field parameters. The results are compared with the measured susceptibility and other bulk magnetic properties. From this it is concluded that the crystal-field parameters x=-0.54 and W=-0.018 meV are the most probable ones.