Magnetic state instability in intermetallics with f- and d-electrons. RPtSn compounds (R=La-Nd).

The main reason for the extensive study of rare-earth intermetallic compounds is the fact that their physical properties are often markedly different from those of either component. Thus they represent essential model systems with well-defined but moderately changing electronic properties across series of isostructural or isoelectronic compounds. In the cerium binary or ternary intermetallic compounds strong hybridization, interaction of the cerium 4f shell with the valence d-states of the transition metal, and other cooperative phenomena lead to a wide variety of physical phenomena ranging from antiferromagnetic, ferromagnetic, over unconventional superconductors (CeRu2) to heavy fermion compounds (CeAl3, CeCu6) with nonmagnetic ground state. Much of the research effort is focused on the investigation of the relation between crystal structure and the corresponding crystalline environment of the rare-earth ion, the electronic structure and the magnetic behaviour. This thesis is devoted to magnetic and electronic properties of the isostructural RPtSn compounds (R = light rare-earth metal) crystallizing in the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi