Electronic Structure Calculations of CeRh$_{3}$B$_{2}$

Abstract

The electronic structure of the ferromagnetic material CeRh$_{3}$B$_{2}$ is studied by means of first-principles calculations with an emphasis on the treatment of localized $4f$ states around Ce. Via the construction of an effective spin model from electronic structure calculations, we estimated the Curie temperature $T_{\rm C}$ of CeRh$_{3}$B$_{2}$ and found a specific configuration of the electronic structure which explains the exceptionally high measured value of $T_{\rm C} \sim 120$ K as well as the small saturation magnetization and the topology of the Fermi surface. Present advance in the understanding of the subtle nature of the $4f$-electron state in CeRh$_{3}$B$_{2}$ that brings about the exceptionally high $T_{\rm C}$ should be also of technological relevance to exploit the utility of Ce in rare-earth permanent magnets.