XANES study of rare-earth valency in LRu4P12 (L = Ce and Pr)

Valency of Ce and Pr in LRu4P12 (L = Ce and Pr) was studied by L2,3-edge x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The Ce-L3 XANES spectrum suggests that Ce is mainly trivalent, but the 4f state strongly hybridizes with ligand orbitals. The band gap of CeRu4P12 seems to be formed by strong hybridization of 4f electrons. Pr-L2 XANES spectra indicate that Pr exists in trivalent state over a wide range in temperature, 20 < T < 300 K. We find that the metal-insulator (MI) transition at TMI = 60 K in PrRu4P12 does not originate from Pr valence fluctuation.Comment: 4 page

Single Crystal Growth of Skutterudite CoP3 under High Pressure

A new method to grow single crystals of skutterudite compounds is examined. Using a wedge-type, cubic-anvil, high-pressure apparatus, single crystals of CoP3 were grown from stoichiometric melts under a pressure of 3.5 GPa. Powder x-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis measurements indicate that the as-grown boules are a single phase of CoP3. The results suggest that CoP3 is a congruent melting compound under high pressure.Comment: 6pages,5 figures, J. Crystal Growth (in press

X-Ray Diffuse Scattering in N-Methylphenazinium-Tetracyanoquinodimethane (NMP-TCNQ)(Physics)

X-ray diffuse scattering measurements of NMP-TCNQ at room temperature reveal some parts of diffuse lines at heights (l±0 : 094n) a^* from the b^*-c^* plane (l and n are integers, and n varies from 0 to 5). These diffuse lines, except those of the 0th order, can be interpreted in terms of a phonon anomaly and suggest incomplete cation-anion charge transfer in NMP-TCNQ

Iodine-123 Metaiodobenzylguanidine Cardiac Imaging to Identify and Localize Vasospastic Angina Without Significant Coronary Artery Narrowing

AbstractObjectives. We assessed the ability of iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging to identify and localize coronary spasm and determined the most useful method of MIBG analysis in vasospastic angina without significant coronary narrowing.Background. Various noninvasive methods have been used to detect vasospastic angina, but they are not very sensitive in patients with sporadic attacks. MIBG imaging has recently been proposed as a useful tool for detecting vasospastic angina.Methods. Normal limits of both visual and quantitative analysis of two-dimensional polar maps (bull’s-eyes) for MIBG imaging were at first established in 59 normal subjects. For optimal criteria of visual analysis, we established regional differences in abnormal MIBG defect scores. An abnormal region of the bull’s-eye was defined as an area >2 SD below normal. An abnormal regional washout rate was defined as <0%. Using these criteria, we prospectively evaluated 104 patients with suspected vasospastic angina. Visual, bull’s-eye and regional washout rate analyses were compared for overall detection of the disease and for individual vessel involvement.Results. Overall sensitivity by these methods was 30%, 42% and 76%, respectively. Washout rate analysis showed a significantly higher sensitivity than the other two methods. Specificity was 78%, 72% and 87%, respectively. The sensitivity of detecting spasm-induced coronary artery with washout rate analysis was 82% for the left anterior descending (LAD), 76% for the right (RCA) and 69% for the circumflex (Cx) coronary arteries. The sensitivity of visual analysis was 29%, 15% and 35%, respectively; that for bull’s-eye analysis was 34%, 54% and 41%, respectively. Washout rate analysis showed a significantly higher sensitivity for LAD spasm than for the other two methods and a higher sensitivity for RCA and Cx spasms than for visual analysis.Conclusions. Regional washout rate analysis of MIBG imaging is a highly accurate technique for determining the presence and location of coronary artery spasm

Possible Kondo resonance in PrFe4P12 studied by bulk-sensitive photoemission

Pr 4f electronic states in Pr-based filled skutterudites PrT4X12(T=Fe and Ru; X=P and Sb) have been studied by high-resolution bulk-sensitive Pr 3d-4f resonance photoemission. A very strong spectral intensity is observed just below the Fermi level in the heavy-fermion system PrFe4P12. The increase of its intensity at lower temperatures is observed. We speculate that this is the Kondo resonance of Pr, the origin of which is attributed to the strong hybridization between the Pr 4f and the conduction electrons.Comment: 4 pages(camera ready format), 4 figures, ReVTeX

Optical Properties of MFe_4P_12 filled skutterudites

Infrared reflectance spectroscopy measurements were made on four members of the MFe_4P_12 family of filled skutterudites, with M=La, Th, Ce and U. In progressing from M=La to U the system undergoes a metal-insulator transition. It is shown that, although the filling atom induces such dramatic changes in the transport properties of the system, it has only a small effect on lattice dynamics. We discuss this property of the compounds in the context of their possible thermoelectric applications.Comment: Manuscript in ReVTeX format, 7 figures in PostScirpt forma

Charge-Density-Wave Ordering in the Metal-Insulator Transition Compound PrRu4P12

X-ray and electron diffraction measurements on the metal-insulator (M-I) transition compound PrRu$_4$P$_{12}$ have revealed the emergence of a periodic ordering of charge density around the Pr atoms. It is found that the ordering is associated with the onset of a low temperature insulator phase. These conclusions are supported by the facts that the space group of the crystal structure transforms from Im$\bar{3}$ to Pm$\bar{3}$ below the M-I transition temperature and also that the temperature dependence of the superlattice peaks in the insulator phase follows the squared BCS function. The M-I transition could be originated from the perfect nesting of the Fermi surface and/or the instability of the $f$ electrons.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, Phys. Rev. B (2004) (in press