Electronic transitions of Ho in Pb[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]HoCu[sub 3]O[sub 8] observed by inelastic neutron scattering

• Published in: Journal of applied physics Vol. 73:10
• Main Authors: Soderholm, L., Loong, C., Xue, J.S., Hammonds, J.P., Greedan, J.E., Maric, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.05.1993
• Subjects: ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS; BARYONS; CHALCOGENIDES; CHARGED PARTICLES; COPPER COMPOUNDS; COPPER OXIDES; CRYSTAL FIELD; ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS; FERMIONS; HADRONS; HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS; HOLMIUM COMPOUNDS; HOLMIUM IONS; HOLMIUM OXIDES; INELASTIC SCATTERING; IONS; LEAD COMPOUNDS; LEAD OXIDES; MATERIALS SCIENCE; NEUTRONS; NUCLEONS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS; SCATTERING; STRONTIUM COMPOUNDS; STRONTIUM OXIDES; SUPERCONDUCTORS; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS 360204 > Ceramics, Cermets, & Refractories > Physical Properties
• ISSN: 0021-8979; 1089-7550
• DOI: 10.1063/1.352684

The electronic behavior of the [sup 5][ital I][sub 8] Russell Saunders ground multiplet of Ho[sup 3+] in Pb[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]HoCu[sub 3]O[sub 8] has been investigated using inelastic neutron scattering. We observe ten peaks in the excitation spectra that are associated with crystal field transitions. The peaks are only slightly broader than expected from instrument resolution, indicating that there are no strong interactions between the local Ho [ital f] states and the CuO conduction states. Comparing the energies and intensities of the experimental peaks with those expected from modeling convinces us that there are at least three states populated at the temperature of our experiment (15 K), making the assignments of transitions very difficult in the absence of further data.