STRUCTURE AND VALENCE PROPERTIES OF SMRUSN3 - X-RAY-DIFFRACTION AND ABSORPTION STUDIES

Abstract

Fukuhara et al. reported SmRuSn3 to be the first Sm-based valence-fluctuating (VF) ternary compound which also orders magnetically. We report here our results of X-ray diffraction, microprobe analysis and L(III)-edge X-ray absorption measurements. We argue that Sm ions are VF at only one crystallographic site (2a); Sm ions at the other site (6d) are in a stable trivalent state. This assignment of the valence state is consistent with our magnetic-susceptibility and specific-heat measurements.