152 research outputs found
Photoelectron spectroscopy of NpPd3 and PuPd3
We present the results of x-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy of NpPd3 and PuPd3. The spectra indicate that for both compounds, the 5f electrons are well localized on the actinide sites. Comparison with bulk measurements indicates that for NpPd3 the electrons have a valence of Np3+ and thus a ground state 5f4 with a Hund's rules 5I4 configuration. Similarly for PuPd3, we find a Pu3+ valence, 5f5 ground state and a Hund's rules 6H5/2 configuration
Magnetic and electrical properties of dhcp NpPd3 and U(1-x)Np(x)Pd3
We have made an extensive study of the magnetic and electrical properties of
double-hexagonal closepacked NpPd3 and a range of U(1-x)Np(x)Pd3 compounds with
x=0.01, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.50 using magnetization, magnetic susceptibility,
electrical resistivity, and heat capacity measurements on polycrystalline
samples, performed in the temperature range 2-300 K and in magnetic fields up
to 9 T. Two transitions are observed in NpPd3 at T=10 and 30 K. Dilute Np
samples (x<0.05) exhibit quadrupolar transitions, with the transition
temperatures reduced from those of pure UPd3.Comment: 10 pages, 18 figure
Determination of the Antiferroquadrupolar Order Parameters in UPd3
By combining accurate heat capacity and X-ray resonant scattering results we
have resolved the long standing question regarding the nature of the
quadrupolar ordered phases in UPd_3. The order parameter of the highest
temperature quadrupolar phase has been uniquely determined to be antiphase
Q_{zx} in contrast to the previous conjecture of Q_{x^2-y^2} . The azimuthal
dependence of the X-ray scattering intensity from the quadrupolar superlattice
reflections indicates that the lower temperature phases are described by a
superposition of order parameters. The heat capacity features associated with
each of the phase transitions characterize their order, which imposes
restrictions on the matrix elements of the quadrupolar operators.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Magnetic Excitations in NpCoGa5
We report the results of inelastic neutron scattering experiments on
NpCoGa, an isostructural analogue of the PuCoGa superconductor. Two
energy scales characterize the magnetic response in the antiferromagnetic
phase. One is related to a non-dispersive excitation between two crystal field
levels. The other at lower energies corresponds to dispersive fluctuations
emanating from the magnetic zone center. The fluctuations persist in the
paramagnetic phase also, although weaker in intensity. This supports the
possibility that magnetic fluctuations are present in PuCoGa, where
unconventional d-wave superconductivity is achieved in the absence of magnetic
order.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Possible Pairing Mechanisms of PuCoGa Superconductor
We examine possible pairing mechanisms of superconductivity in PuCoGa
based on spin-fluctuations or phonons as mediating bosons. We consider
experimental data of specific heat C(T) and resistivity as input to
determine a consistent scattering boson with the superconducting transition
temperature of 18.5K in PuCoGa. Irrespective to the type of boson, the
characteristic boson frequency is found to be from the resistivity
fitting. The spin fluctuation model is most consistent with the experimental
resistivity, successfully explaining the anomalous temperature dependence
() at low temperatures as well as the saturation
behavior at high temperatures. Assuming that the pairing state is non s-wave,
the large residual resistivity
suggests that an ideally pure sample of PuCoGa would have a maximum T
of 39 K.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Possible mechanism of superconductivity in PuCoGa5 probed by self-irradiation damage
Measurements of the electrical resistivity of a polycrystalline PuCoGa5 sample reveal significant modifications
of the superconducting properties as a function of time, due to the increase of defects and impurities
resulting from self-irradiation damage. More than four years of aging were necessary to detect a deviation from
linearity in the time dependence of the critical temperature. The observed behavior is understood in the
framework of the Eliashberg theory, confirming the ¿dirty¿ d-wave character which was already suggested by
nuclear magnetic resonance. We show that experimental data accumulated so far can be well reproduced by
assuming a phononic mechanism for superconductivity, with reasonable values of the electron-phonon coupling
and Coulomb pseudopotential. Further experiments are then required to assess the role of spin fluctuations
in stabilizing the superconducting state in this compound.JRC.E.6-Actinides researc
Superconducting gap structure of the 115's revisited
Density functional theory calculations of the electronic structure of Ce- and
Pu-based heavy fermion superconductors in the so-called 115 family are
performed. The gap equation is used to consider which superconducting order
parameters are most favorable assuming a pairing interaction that is peaked at
(\pi,\pi,q_z) - the wavevector for the antiferromagnetic ordering found in
close proximity. In addition to the commonly accepted order
parameter, there is evidence that an extended s-wave order parameter with nodes
is also plausible. We discuss whether these results are consistent with current
observations and possible measurements that could help distinguish between
these scenarios.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; Accepted for publication in JPC
Nature of non-magnetic strongly-correlated state in delta-plutonium
Ab-initio relativistic dynamical mean-field theory is applied to resolve the
long-standing controversy between theory and experiment in the "simple"
face-centered cubic phase of plutonium called delta-Pu. In agreement with
experiment, neither static nor dynamical magnetic moments are predicted. In
addition, the quasiparticle density of states reproduces not only the peak
close to the Fermi level, which explains the large coefficient of electronic
specific heat, but also main 5f features observed in photoelectron
spectroscopy.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure
- …