Inelastic X-ray scattering of RTAl3 (R = La, Ce, T = Cu, Au)

Abstract

Inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) experiments of RTAl3 (R = La Ce, T = Cu, Au) were carried out at 300 and 5.5 K. The spectra between LaCuAl3 and CeCuAl3 (LaAuAl3 and CeAuAl3) are nearly identical at both temperatures except for temperature factors such as temperature dependence of Bose factor in IXS spectra and effect on thermal expansion.

This means that no evident temperature dependence of IXS spectra was observed in CeTAl3 (T = Cu, Au). Since the major contribution of scattering cross section in IXS measurements is Thomson scattering, the present results failed to confirm the presence of vibron in these compounds.

Keywords

• Vibron excitation
• Phonon excitation
• Inelastic X-ray scattering