Spin-Orbit Coupling versus Exchange Interaction in Actinide Metals
- Diamond Light Source, Didcot, OX11 0DE (United Kingdom)
- Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550 (United States)
The electronic structure of the actinide metals, Th, U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm, is investigated using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a transmission electron microscope, together with many-electron spectral calculations. At the N{sub 4,5} edge, sum rule analysis gives the angular part of the spin-orbit interaction per hole, showing that while light metals (Th and U) follow LS coupling, heavier metals (Pu, Am, and Cm) follow intermediate coupling of the 5f states. The intermediate coupling is near the jj limit for Pu and Am, but strongly shifted towards the LS coupling limit for Cm. At the O{sub 4,5} edge many-electron spectral calculations show that the pre-peak corresponds to a 'forbidden' transition. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- Materials Research Society, 506 Keystone Drive, Warrendale, PA, 15086-7573 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21091540
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium Actinides 2008 - Basic Science, Applications and Technology, San Francisco, CA (United States), 24-28 Mar 2008; Other Information: Country of input: France; 30 refs.; Full text available at: http://www.mrs.org/s{sub m}rs/bin.asp?CID=12409&DID=211491&DOC=FILE.PDF; Related Information: In: Proceedings of the symposium Actinides 2008 - Basic Science, Applications and Technology, by Chung, B.; Thompson, J.; Shuh, D.; Albrecht-Schmitt, T.; Gouder, T. (eds.), v. 1104, [260] pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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