Crystal-electric-field effects and quadrupole fluctuations in Ce3Au3Sb4 detected by Sb NQR
Abstract
We report S 121,123 b nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) studies on single crystals of the narrow-gap semiconductor Ce3 Au3 Sb 4. Five NQR lines from the two Sb isotopes were successfully identified. The temperature dependence of the nuclear quadrupole frequency (νQ), as well as the static magnetic susceptibility (χ), is well explained by crystal-electric-field effects. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rates (T1-1) of both 121Sb and 123Sb increase rapidly with decreasing temperature. The ratio of T1-1 for the two Sb isotopes is constant at high temperature but it decreases at low temperatures, indicating the role of quadrupole fluctuations of the Ce ions. The possible origin of the large specific heat at low temperatures is discussed basing on our results. © 2010 The American Physical Society.
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