Rattling phenomena in the beta-pyrochlore oxides and related compounds

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Rattling is the local vibration of a relatively small atom/ion encapsulated in an atomic cage in a crystal and strongly interacts with surrounding electrons on the cage owing to the unusually large amplitude of the vibration associated with the anharmonicity. This electron-rattling interaction causes a strong-coupling superconductivity and a large mass enhancement of conduction electrons. We have focused on a typical cage compound beta-pyrochlore oxides and studied the rattling phenomena through crystal growth, structural analyses and physical property measurements. We have successfully obtained experimental evidence to show the essential feature of the rattling.