Unraveling 5f-6d hybridization in uranium compounds via spin-resolved L-edge spectroscopy

Author(s)

dos Reis, R. D. ^{[1, 2]} ; Veiga, L. S. I. ^{[1, 2]} ; Escanhoela, Jr., C. A. ^[1] ; Lang, J. C. ^[3] ; Joly, Y. ^{[4, 5]} ; Gandra, F. G. ^[2] ; Haskel, D. ^[3] ; Souza-Neto, N. M. ^{[3, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Brazilian Ctr Res Energy & Mat CNPEM, Brazilian Synchrotron Light Lab LNLS, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Inst Fis Gleb Wataghin, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Argonne Natl Lab, Adv Photon Source, Argonne, IL 60439 - USA

^[4] Univ Grenoble Alpes, Inst NEEL, F-38042 Grenoble - France

^[5] CNRS, Inst NEEL, F-38042 Grenoble - France

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS; v. 8, OCT 31 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

The multifaceted character of 5f electrons in actinide materials, from localized to itinerant and in between, together with their complex interactions with 6d and other conduction electron states, has thwarted efforts for fully understanding this class of compounds. While theoretical efforts abound, direct experimental probes of relevant electronic states and their hybridization are limited. Here we exploit the presence of sizable quadrupolar and dipolar contributions in the uranium L-3-edge X-ray absorption cross section to provide unique information on the extent of spin-polarized hybridization between 5f and 6d electronic states by means of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. As a result, we show how this 5f-6d hybridization regulates the magnetism of each sublattice in UCu2Si2 and UMn2Si2 compounds, demonstrating the potentiality of this methodology to investigate a plethora of magnetic actinide compounds. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/05480-3 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2013/22436-5: facility for high pressure experiments
• Grantee: Narcizo Marques de Souza Neto
• Support type: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 10/19979-9 - Interplay between magnetism and superconductivity by x-ray spectroscopies and electronic structure simulations
• Grantee: Larissa Sayuri Ishibe Veiga
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/22436-5 - Synchrotron Radiation techniques under extreme conditions
• Grantee: Narcizo Marques de Souza Neto
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/26620-8 - X-ray 1/4 wave plate for magnetic dichroism
• Grantee: Eduardo Henrique de Toledo Poldi
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation