We have studied the magnetic and thermal properties of iron-doped lead telluride. Magnetic susceptibility studies reveal that the iron ion in this compound assumes the divalent state and has a solubility limit of approximately 0.13%. The lattice thermal conductivity in iron-containing samples is suppressed over a wide temperature range. This behavior is attributed to scattering of phonons between spin-orbit-split magnetic energy levels with spacing that nearly coincides with the Debye temperature of lead telluride.

• Received 28 August 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.67.035206