Analysis of the crystal electric field parameters of YbNi4P2.

The crystal electric field (CEF) scheme of YbNi₄P₂ is determined, based on experimental data from inelastic neutron scattering, heat capacity, susceptibility andNMRmeasurements. Despite the tetragonal crystal structure, 9 parameters are needed to describe the crystal field in YbNi₄P₂ due to the orthorhombic site symmetry of the Yb ion. Alarge basal plane anisotropy is detected by the local probe NMR. Our analysis yields CEF excitation energies of 8.5, 12.5 and roughly 30 meV and a ground state wave function that is dominated by the 5 2 state. Furthermore, we present an analysis of the CEF scheme based on density functional theory calculations, which confirms the large basal plane anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]