Localized 4f States and Dynamic Jahn-Teller Effect in PrO2

Abstract

Neutron spectroscopic measurements of the magnetic excitations in PrO${}_2$ reveal (1) sharp peaks characteristic of transitions between levels of the $4f^1$ configuration of Pr${}^{4+}$ split by the cubic crystal field, and (2) broad bands of scattering centred near 30 meV and 160 meV. We present a simple model based on a vibronic Hamiltonian that accounts for the main features of the data. The analysis shows that $90\pm 10$% of the Pr ions have a localized $4f^1$ configuration and provides strong evidence for a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in the ${\Gamma }_8$ electronic ground state.

To be published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 4 pages, 2 figs

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