Resonant band-electron--f-electron scattering theory for highly correlated actinide systems

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.38.2639· OSTI ID:6881432

Hu, G; Kioussis, N; Banerjea, A; Cooper, B R

In earlier studies we recognized that the highly correlated behavior of the f electrons within moderately delocalized light actinide (uranium, neptunium, plutonium) systems is linked to the non-f-band behavior via the hybridization process. By transforming the hybridization into a band-electron--f-electron resonant scattering from the correlated multiplet states of the actinide ions, and considering only the scattering processes that involve f electrons in the m/sub l/ = 0, m/sub s/ = +- 1/2 states (for quantization along the interionic axis) which dominate the two-ion interactions, our earlier work explained the main features of the anisotropic magnetic equilibrium behavior for the PuSb system but failed to reproduce the correct polarization (longitudinal) for the long-period antiferromagnetic structure observed in the temperature range below the Neel temperature. In this paper we include the next-to-dominant scattering channels (single-site scattering processes involving f electrons with m/sub l/ = +- 1, m/sub s/ = minus-or-plus1/2). This refinement changes the angular dependence of the anisotropic interaction, and successfully yields the ferromagnetic to longitudinally polarized long-period antiferromagnetic phase transition as is experimentally observed. Excellent agreement with experiment for the correlation length anisotropy is also obtained. For the magnetic excitation behavior in the ferromagnetic phase pertinent to PuSb at T = 0, the theory gives a spectrum with two polarized branches at the zone boundary for q along the (100) (transverse-to-moment) direction.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506
• OSTI ID: 6881432
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Vol. 38:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ACTINIDES
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
ANISOTROPY
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
CORRELATIONS
CRYSTAL FIELD
ELECTRONS
ENERGY
EXCITATION
F STATES
FERROMAGNETISM
HYBRIDIZATION
RESONANCE
SCATTERING
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FERMIONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETISM
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
360104* - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties