# FORMATION OF THE HEAVY-FERMION STATE - AN EXPLANATION IN A MODEL TRADITIONALLY CALLED LOCALIZED∗∗∗

## Abstract

In contrary to widely spread view about the substantial delocalization of $`f`$ electrons in heavy-fermion (h-f) compounds it is argued that h-f phenomena can be understood with localized $`f`$ electrons. Then the role of crystal-field interactions is essential and the heavy-fermion behaviour can occur for the localized Kramers-doublet ground state.

16.06.1999

In the proposed explanation compounds exhibiting heavy-fermion (h-f) behaviour are considered - in analogy to normal rare-earth intermetallics - within a few electronic subsystems. For the understanding of the h-f behaviour it is essential to distinquish f electrons from conduction electrons. These two subsystems are independent as far as the direct electron hopping from one to other subsystem does not occur. The f subsystem is a highly correlated f$`^{\text{ }n}`$ electonic system. The proposed model takes advantage of two recent findings: i) crystalline-electronic-field (CEF) interactions of the f shell can produce a non-magnetic ground state even in case of the Kramers system (the analytical proof exists, at present, for the f$`^{\text{ 3}}`$ system in the hexagonal symmetry ) and ii) the f$`^{\text{ }n}`$ localized states for an intermetallic compound containing an f atom always lie at the specific-heat probing level (the virtual Fermi level) as the f$`^{\text{ }n}`$ states are many-body states in contrary to single-electron states within the conduction-electron band. The different nature of excitations allows for independent contributions of these two subsystems to magnetic and electronic properties. The CEF state

$`\mathrm{\Gamma }_9`$=$`\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}`$ $`|`$ $`\pm `$3/2$`>`$ \+ $`\frac{1}{2}`$ $`|`$ $``$9/2$`>`$

given for the f$`^{\text{ 3}}`$ subsystem in the hexagonal CEF interactions is a Non-Magnetic Kramers doublet as expectation values for J<sub>x</sub> J<sub>y</sub>, and J<sub>z</sub>, of the total angular momentum are equal zero. In ref. 1 this state has been proved to be realized as the ground state. In compounds exhibiting the heavy-fermion behaviour, the ground sate of the f-electron subsystem tends to the N-M Kramers doublet. Then one has in the single-ion picture enhanced but finite susceptibility at 0 K and a normal Curie-Weiss behaviour at higher temperatures exactly as is experimentally observed. The N-M Kramers doublet ground state of f electrons behaves like a half-filled band at the Fermi level (2 states and 1 f$`^{\text{ }n}`$ particle) allowing for a ”delocalization” of the f electrons and, in particular, for a many low-energy excitations detected as an enormous specific heat at lowest temperatures. In the presented model correlations between f electrons and conduction electrons proceed via electrostatic in interactions. The heavy-fermion state results from competition between CEF and antiferromagnetic interactions.

Some further implications of the model will be discussed.

<sup>∗∗∗</sup>presented at International Conference on Strongly Correlated Electron Systems, Sendai, Japan, September 7-11, 1992 as the poster 8P-92. The above text has been printed in the abstract booklet. The paper has been rejected from publication by the Organizing Committee despite of the strong author’s complains.