Hybridization effects and multipole orders in Pr skutterudites

Theoretical account is given of 4f-electron dynamics and multipole orders in Pr skutterudites with particular attention to (i) mechanism of the crystalline electric field (CEF) splitting leading to a pseudo-quartet ground state;(ii) Kondo effect due to exchange interactions involving the pseudo-quartet;(iii) multipole orders in the lattice of the pseudo-quartet in magnetic field.Competition between the point-charge interaction andhybridization between 4f and conduction electrons is identified as the key for controlling the CEF splitting. It is found that one of two pseudo-spins forming the pseudo-quartet has a ferromagnetic exchange, while the other has an antiferromagnetic exchange with conduction electrons. The Kondo effect is clearly seen in the resistivity calculated by the NCA, provided the low-lying triplet above the singlet is mainly composed of the $\Gamma_4$-type wave functions.If the weight of the $\Gamma_5$-type is large in the triplet, the Kondo effect does not appear.This difference caused by the nature of the triplet explains the presence of the Kondo effect inPrFe$_4$P$_{12}$, and its absence in PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$.By taking the minimal model with antiferro-quadrupole (AFQ) and ferro-type intersite interactions for dipoles and octupoles between nearest-neighbors,the mean-field theory reproduces the overall feature of the multiple ordered phases in PrFe$_4$P$_{12}$. The AFQ order with the $\Gamma_3$-type symmetry is found to be stable only as a mixture of $O_2^0$ and $O_2^2$ components.Comment: 21 pages, to be published in proc. YKIS200

Diffraction from Ordered States of Higher Multipoles

Possible ways of identification are discussed of an electronic order of higher multipoles such as octupoles and hexadecapoles. A particularly powerful method is resonant X-ray scattering (RXS) using quadrupolar resonance processes called E2.The characteristic azimuthal angle dependence of Ce$_{0.7}$La$_{0.3}$B$_6$ is interpreted as evidence of antiferro-octupole order. For PrRu$_4$P$_{12}$, eightfold pattern against azimuthal angle is predicted if its metal-insulator transition is a consequence of a hexadecapole order. In non-resonant superlattice Bragg scattering, hexadecapole contribution may also be identified because of absence of quadrupole component.Comment: Invited paper to be published in Proc. Hiroshima Workshop on Novel Functional Materials with Multinary Freedoms (Physica B, 2006

Recording system for the solar neutron monitoring at Mt. Norikura

To monitor solar neutron events, a new recording system will be installed at Mt. Norikura Cosmic Ray Observatory. The recording system is composed of a pulse counter with clock and a microcomputer with minifloppy disk. The counter and the microcomputer are connected through the General Purpose Interface Bus line. The one minute total count of the neutron monitor is recorded on the minifloppy disk

On the Hidden Order in URu2_{2}Si2_{2} --- Antiferro Hexadecapole Order and its Consequences

An antiferro ordering of an electric hexadecapole moment is discussed as a promising candidate for the long standing mystery of the hidden order phase in URu$_{2}$Si$_{2}$. Based on localized $f$-electron picture, we discuss the rationale of the selected multipole and the consequences of the antiferro hexadecapole order of $xy(x^{2}-y^{2})$ symmetry. The mean-field solutions and the collective excitations from them explain reasonably significant experimental observations: the strong anisotropy in the magnetic susceptibility, characteristic behavior of pressure versus magnetic field or temperature phase diagrams, disappearance of inelastic neutron-scattering intensity out of the hidden order phase, and insensitiveness of the NQR frequency at Ru-sites upon ordering. A consistency with the strong anisotropy in the magnetic responses excludes all the multipoles in two-dimensional representations, such as $(O_{yz},O_{zx})$. The expected azimuthal angle dependences of the resonant X-ray scattering amplitude are given. The $(x^{2}-y^{2})$-type antiferro quadrupole should be induced by an in-plane magnetic field along $[110]$, which is reflected in the thermal expansion and the elastic constant of the transverse $(c_{11}-c_{12})/2$ mode. The $(x^{2}-y^{2})$-type [$(xy)$-type] antiferro quadrupole is also induced by applying the uniaxial stress along $[110]$ direction [$[100]$ direction]. A detection of these induced antiferro quadrupoles under the in-plane magnetic field or the uniaxial stress using the resonant X-ray scattering provides a direct redundant test for the proposed order parameter.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, 5 table