Optical conductivity of CePd3, YPd3 and PrPd3

The optical conductivity of intermediate valence CePd₃ at 300 K exhibits a maximum near 16 meV, which is absent in the reference materials YPd₃ and PrPd₃. Using a modified Drude model with a memory function ansatz this anomaly has been identified as a resonant electron-electron scattering process of conduction electrons at the localized 4f states near the Fermi level E_F. The model fit gives estimates of the width of the 4f states, of their separation from E_F and of the f-d hybridization energy. Intra-4f transitions of CePd₃ are stronger compared to those of PrPd₃ due to the stronger f-d hybirdization. 4d→4f transition energies of CePd₃ are reduced due to an electron-hole Coulomb binding energy.