Spatial distribution of the induced magnetization in CeNi

In order to confirm the electronic nature of the susceptibility measured on the Pauli paramagnet CeNi and more especially the origin of the maximum of the susceptibility observed at 140 K, a polarized neutron diffraction study has been performed at 20 and 140 K, in an applied field of 4.6 T, leading to induced magnetization density maps at these two temperatures. Whereas in the Pauli paramagnet CeNi₅, the induced magnetization is localized on the nickel sites only, in CeNi it is localized on the cerium site at both temperatures and no magnetic density appears on the nickel site. Thus, magnetism in CeNi arises from the 4f electrons of cerium which is in an intermediate valence state.