Crystalline electric field effects in the electrical resistivity of PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

TL;DR

This study investigates how crystalline electric field effects influence the electrical resistivity of PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$, revealing the role of CEF splitting, magnetic exchange, and Coulomb scattering in its heavy fermion superconducting behavior.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of resistivity features using CEF theory, connecting experimental data with theoretical models and previous measurements.

Findings

Resistivity features are linked to CEF splitting of Pr$^{3+}$ energy levels.

Calculated resistivity matches experimental data across temperature and magnetic field.

Qualitative agreement of model with observed dome-shaped resistivity in magnetic field.

Abstract

The temperature $T$ and magnetic field $H$ dependencies of the electrical resistivity $\rho$ of the recently discovered heavy fermion superconductor \PrOsSb{} have features that are associated with the splitting of the Pr$^{3+}$ Hund's rule multiplet by the crystalline electric field (CEF). These features are apparently due to magnetic exchange and aspherical Coulomb scattering from the thermally populated CEF-split Pr$^{3+}$ energy levels. The $\rho(T)$ data in zero magnetic field can be described well by calculations based on CEF theory for various ratios of magnetic exchange and aspherical Coulomb scattering, and yield CEF parameters that are qualitatively consistent with those previously derived from magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Calculated $\rho(H)$ isotherms for a $\Gamma_{3}$ ground state qualitatively account for the `dome-shaped' feature in the measured $\rho(H)$ isotherms.