Effect of copper and cobalt impurities on the electronic structure and optical spectra of the intermetallic compound PrNi5

The electronic structure and optical properties of the intermetallic compound PrNi₅ and their evolution during the substitution of copper or cobalt atoms for nickel atoms have been investigated. The band spectra of the studied compounds have been calculated in the local spin density approximation corrected to account for strong electron-electron interactions in the 4f shell of the rare-earth ion (LSDA + U method). The dispersion relations of the optical conductivity in the interband light absorption region have been interpreted using the results of calculations of the electron density of states.