First-Order Structural Change Accompanied by Yb Valence Transition in YbInCu4

A diffraction experiment using a high energy x-ray was carried out on YbInCu4. Below the Yb valence transition temperature, the splitting of Bragg peaks was detected in higher-order reflections. No superlattice reflections accompanying the valence ordering were found below the transition temperature. These experimental findings indicate that a structural change from a cubic structure to a tetragonal structure without valence ordering occurs at the transition temperature. Such a structural change free from any valence ordering is difficult to understand only in terms of Yb valence degrees of freedom. This means that the structural change may be related to electronic symmetries such as quadrupolar degrees of freedom as well as the change in Yb valence.

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