Spectroscopic characterization of actinide materials

DOI: 10.1557/mrs2010.716

Authors: R. Caciuffo (Institute for Transuranium Elements) , E. C. Buck (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) , D. L. Clark (Los Alamos National Laboratory) , G. Van Der Laan (Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Mrs Bulletin , VOL 35 , PAGES 889-895

State: Published (Approved)
Published: November 2010

Abstract: Advanced spectroscopic techniques provide new and unique tools for unraveling the nature of the electronic structure of actinide materials. Inelastic neutron scattering experiments, which address temporal aspects of lattice and magnetic fluctuations, probe electromagnetic multipole interactions and the coupling between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom. Nuclear magnetic resonance clearly demonstrates different magnetic ground states at low temperature. Photoemission spectroscopy provides information on the occupied part of the electronic density of states and has been used to investigate the momentum-resolved electronic structure and the topology of the Fermi surface in a variety of actinide compounds. Furthermore, x-ray absorption and electron energy-loss spectroscopy have been used to probe the relativistic nature, occupation number, and degree of localization of 5f electrons across the actinide series. More recently, element- and edge-specific resonant and non-resonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments have provided the opportunity of measuring elementary electronic excitations with higher resolution than traditional absorption techniques. Here, we will discuss results from these spectroscopic techniques and what they tell us of the electronic and magnetic properties of selected actinide materials.

Subject Areas: Materials, Physics, Technique Development


Technical Areas:

Added On: 23/11/2010 08:21

Discipline Tags:

Technique Development - Materials Science Physics Hard condensed matter - structures Materials Science

Technical Tags: