Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 169, 191-197 (2009)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2009-00992-9

Theory of XMCD spectra at the L_{1212 2,3} absorption edges of mixed valence Ce and Yb compounds in high magnetic fields

¹ Photon Factory, Institute of Materials Structure Science, 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0801, Japan
² RIKEN Harima Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan

Corresponding author: kotani@post.kek.jp

Abstract

XAS and XMCD spectra at the L_2,3 absoption edges of mixed valence Ce and Yb compounds are calculated in high magnetic fields ranging from 10 to 1000 T and at zero temperature by using a new theoretical framework proposed very recently by the present author. The XMCD spectra exhibit a peak only for the 4f¹ (for Ce) and 4f¹³ (for Yb) final states. Available experimental data for CePd₃ at 7 T is reasonably well explained. With a further increase in the magnetic field strength, the Kondo bound state becomes unstable, and concomitantly the XMCD spectra behave in a different way from those at low magnetic fields. One of the most striking behavior is the field-dependence of the L₂ XMCD intensity of the Yb system; the XMCD intensity first increases with the magnetic field strength, but decreases as the Kondo bound state becomes unstable.