Neutron inelastic scattering study of the crystalline electric field and molecular splitting in CeC₂

Neutron inelastic scattering experiments have been performed on a polycrystalline sample of CeC₂ to obtain information on the crystalline electric field level structure and the exchange interaction. The measurements in the paramagnetic phase yield the Gamma _t7 ⁽²⁾ doublet as ground state and the Gamma _t6 doublet at 7 meV and the Gamma _t7⁽¹⁾ doublet at 18 meV as excited states. From the measurement in the magnetically ordered state the authors obtain the molecular field parameter lambda =(2.2+or-0.1)*10²⁵ Oe² erg^-1.