X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the U M{sub 4,5} absorption edges of UFe{sub 2}

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.55.3010· OSTI ID:450366

Finazzi, M ^[1]; Sainctavit, P ^[1]; Dias, A ^[1]; Kappler, J ^[1]; Krill, G ^[1]; Sanchez, J; Dalmas de Reotier, P; Yaouanc, A ^[2]; Rogalev, A; Goulon, J ^[3]

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1. Laboratoire pour lUtilisation du Rayonnement Electromagnetique, Batiment 209D, Universite Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay Cedex (France)
2. CEA, Departement de Recherche Fondamentale sur la Matiere Condensee, SPSMS, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9 (France)
3. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Boite Postale 220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex (France)

We present an x-ray magnetic circular dichroism study performed at the U M{sub 4,5} edges on UFe{sub 2}, a ferromagnet with almost itinerant 5f electrons. The analysis of the branching ratio of the U M{sub 4,5} edges confirms the fact that the occupation number of the 5f states in UFe{sub 2} is lower than in other compounds where the f electrons are more localized. Magnetic circular dichroism effects are observed consistently with the presence of an orbital 5f magnetic moment which aligns parallel to the total magnetic moment. In agreement with a polarized neutron study, we find a nearly perfect cancellation of the U-5f spin and orbital magnetic moments, which results in a vanishing small total U-5f magnetic moment. Results are discussed in comparison with atomic multiplet calculations. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 450366
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Vol. 55, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
URANIUM ALLOYS
MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM
IRON BASE ALLOYS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
BRANCHING RATIO
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
L-S COUPLING
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
X-RAY SPECTRA
BAND THEORY
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS