Tunneling spectroscopy of RTe2 (R=La, Ce) and possible coexistence between charge-density waves and magnetic order

Jung Myoung Hwa

Ekino Toshikazu

Kwon Y. S.

Takabatake Toshiro

Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Tunneling spectra are measured on the charge-density wave (CDW) compound LaTe2 and the isostructural antiferromagnet CeTe2 with TN = 4.3 K by a break-junction method. In contrast to the well-developed CDW gap 2δ = 0.9 eV wide for LaTe2, the spectrum of polycrystal CeTe2 is V shaped with 2δ = 1.2 eV. These gap structures agree with the optical-conductivity spectra for both compounds. The V-shaped spectrum for CeTe2 suggests that the CDW gap is modified by the presence of electronic states hybridized with the 4f electron states. A smaller gap 2δ* = 0.5 eV was observed for the bulk tunneling current in the c plane of single crystals of CeTe2. On cooling below TC = 6.1 K, where a short-range ferromagnetic order sets in, 2δ* exhibits a sharp minimum. Furthermore, subgap anomalies appear below TC and suddenly increase at TN. The normalized zero-bias conductance shows a minimum at TC and a sudden increase below TN. These facts suggest possible interplay of CDW's and magnetic order in CeTe2.

eng

American Physical Society

Copyright (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.

[ISSN] 1098-0121

[DOI] 10.1103/PhysRevB.63.035101

[NCID] AA11187113

[DOI] http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.62.11609