New theory of the gamma-alpha phase transition in Ce: quadrupolar ordering

Abstract

We present a theoretical model of the "isostructural" \gamma-\alpha phase transition in Ce which is based on quadrupolar interactions due to coupled charge density fluctuations of 4f electrons and of conduction electrons. Conduction electrons are treated in tight-binding approximation. The \gamma-\alpha transition is described as an orientational ordering of quadrupolar electronic densities in a Pa3 structure. The quadrupolar order of the conduction electron densities is complementary to the quadrupolar order of 4f electron densities. The inclusion of conduction electrons leads to an increase of the lattice contraction at the \gamma-\alpha transition in comparison to the sole effect of 4f electrons. We calculate the Bragg scattering law and suggest synchrotron radiation experiments in order to check the Pa3 structure. The theory is capable of accounting for transitions to phases of non-cubic symmetry, but it is not sufficient to describe the magnetic phenomena which we ascribe to the Kondo mechanism. We also present a microscopic derivation of multipolar interactions and discuss the crystal field of \gamma-Ce.