4f Excitation Energies in Rare-Earth Metals: Relativistic Calculations

Published

February 15, 1976

Author(s)

J F. Herbst, R E. Watson, J W. Wilkins

Abstract

We describe calculations of 4f electron binding energies for the rare-earth metals. Relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations for atomic configurations most closely approximating those of the metals are initially performed, and crystal potentials are constructed by means of the renormalized-atom method. Relativistic band calculations are iterated to crude self-consistency and total band energies obtained. Correlation effects identical to those in the free atoms are assumed. Within the assumption of a completely screened final state, in which the atomic site having the 4f hole is electrically neutral, 4f binding energies are estimated which are in at least as good agreement with experiment as previous, less complete calculations. The impact of the complete screening approximation is assessed by estimating the binding energies corresponding to atomic sites which are ionized in their final states; we find that the presence of an additional screening electron lowers the 4f binding energy by 4-6 eV.

Citation

Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics)

Volume

13

Issue

4

Pub Type

Journals

Citation

Herbst, J. , Watson, R. and Wilkins, J. (1976), 4f Excitation Energies in Rare-Earth Metals: Relativistic Calculations, Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics) (Accessed October 31, 2024)