Crystal field-phonon coupling in the Kondo lattice CeCU2

CeCU2 is a Kondo lattice and shows antiferromagnetic order below 3.5 K. In earlier neutron-scattering experiments on a polycrystalline sample an anomaly in the inelastic neutron spectra at about 14 meV and at temperatures between 100 and 150 K was observed. This has led to the assumption of a coupling between a crystal field transition between two excited levels and phonons. Inelastic neutron measurements on a single crystal confirm this assumption. We find an unusual strong energy shift (up to 15%) of certain phonons with increasing temperature, depending on their symmetry. At the same time the magnetic response is strongly broadened due to the coupling to the phonons.