Experimental evidence of a strongly reduced orbital moment in CeRh3B2

Abstract Magnetic circular X-ray dichroism (MCXD) studies at the CeL 2,3 and M 4,5 absorption edges in the CeRh 3 B 2 and CeFe 2 compounds are presented. Experiments at the L 2,3 edges allow to get information on the 5d magnetism whereas the M 4,5 edges witness the behavior of the 4f electrons. It will be shown that in CeRh 3 B 2 , the properties of the 4f orbitals are between localization and intermediate valence. Values of the magnetic moment on the Ce atom can be estimated from MCXD measurements. The 4f orbital magnetic moment is found to be strongly reduced by crystal field effects as compared to the value expected for fully localized electrons.