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Title: Electronic structure and magnetism of actinide compounds: 6d versus 5f electrons

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.330689· OSTI ID:5458123

We have studied the electronic structure of cleaved (100) single crystals of UAs/sub x/Se/sub 1-x/, U/sub x/Th/sub 1-x/Sb, U/sub x/Y/sub 1-x/Sb, and USb/sub x/Te/sub 1-x/ with high resolution (..delta..E<150 meV) photoemission using synchrotron radiation 10< or =h..nu..< or =130 eV. In contrast to the general belief we find significant differences in the photoemission density of states near E/sub F/ for these compounds. We conclude that these differences are mainly due to valence d electrons and that U has a quasi-localized 5f/sup 3/ configuration in resonance with itinerant 6d states. This explains the quite similar magnetic behavior of U/sub x/Th/sub 1-x/Sb and USb/sub x/Te/sub 1-x/, both of which change from highly anisotropic <100> antiferromagnets (x> or approx. =0.85) to <111> ferromagnets (x< or approx. =0.85), i.e., with an increasing number of 6d electrons. Namely, the smaller ordered moment in UTe and the gradually decreasing moment in U/sub x/Th/sub 1-x/Sb for 1.0> or =x> or =0.3 are attributed to the 6d moments which are polarized antiparallel to the 5f moments.

Research Organization:
IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598
OSTI ID:
5458123
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 53:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English