Electron Momentum Distribution of Terbium by Compton Scattering Technique

We present the experimental Compton profile of polycrystalline terbium, using 661.65 keV gamma-rays, emitted by 20 Ci 1 3 7 Cs. In the absence of band structure calculations, theoretical computations have been made using renormalised-free-atom (RFA) and free electron based profiles. It is seen that the RFA results with e--e- correlation correction agree relatively better with the experiment. The data are interpreted in terms of spd-f hybridization in the valence state of terbium. From the RFA profile, we have also derived the cohesive energy of terbium, which is compared with other band structures and experimental investigations.