Charge ordering in the intermediate valence magnet YbPd

An x-ray diffraction study reveals the charge ordering structure in an intermediate valence magnet YbPd with a CsCl-structure. The valence of the Yb ions forms an incommensurate structure, characterized by the wavevector (+-0.07 +-0.07 1/2) below 130 K. At 105 K, the incommensurate structure turns into a commensurate structure, characterized by the wavevector (0 0 1/2). Based on the resonant x-ray diffraction spectra of the superlattice reflections, the valences of the Yb ions below 105 K are found to be 3+ and 2.6+. The origin of the long wavelength modulation is discussed with the aid of an Ising model having the second nearest neighbor interaction.