Temperature dependence of lattice constants of the rare-earth hexaborides EuB6and GdB6

Abstract

The temperature dependences of the lattice constants of single crystals of the rare-earth hexaborides EuB6and GdB6were determined by analysing the low-temperature X-ray patterns. The lattice constant decreases monotonously with decreasing temperature. The linear thermal expansion coefficients for the two compounds were also obtained by analysing the temperature dependence of the lattice constants.