Crystal field influence on the thermal conductivity of the rare-earth metallic paramagnets

Abstract

Contribution to thermal conductivity from conduction electron scattering on crystal field magnetic excitations is calculated and analyzed for normal rare-earth inter-metallic paramagnets. It is shown that in temperatures much lower than Debye temperature $\TD$ its behavior essentially depends on the ground state of magnetic ion in crystal field and on the excitation energy in relation to $\TD$\,. Combined effect from the electron scattering on the crystal-field excitations, on acoustic phonons, and on nonmagnetic impurities is discussed in reference to CF splitting character and to the relative intensities of magnetic and non-magnetic scattering. Total thermal conductivity resulting from these three sources of scattering is calculated for $RE$In${}_3$ ($RE=$Nd,\,Pr,\,Tm) and compared with experimental data.

arXiv comment25 pages, 5 figures; some phrases containing incorrect conclusions have been removed; some minor editorial changes have been carried out