Electronic and magnetic properties of heavy fermion CeCu4Al

The studies of the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, electrical resistivity, x-ray photoemission spectra (XPS) and the band structure calculations for CeCu4Al are reported. CeCu4Al is paramagnetic and follows the Curie-Weiss law with mu(eff) = 2.53 mu(B)/f.u. and theta(p) = - 10 K. The experimental value of mu(eff) is close to the calculated one for a free Ce3+ ion (2.54 mu(B)), thus indicating the presence of well-localized magnetic moments carried by the stable Ce3+ ions. Below the Fermi energy the total density of states contains mainly the d states of Cu atoms, which hybridize with the Ce f electronic states. The analysis of the Ce 3d and 4d XPS spectra indicates the localized character of the Ce f states. The determined electronic specific heat coefficient gamma = 210 mJ K-2 mol(-1) confirms the heavy fermion character of the CeCu4Al compounds.