No Arabic abstract
The temperature-dependent evolution pattern of 5f electrons helps to elucidate the long-standing itinerant-localized dual nature in plutonium-based compounds. In this work, we investigate the correlated electronic states of PuIn3 dependence on temperature by using a combination of the density functional theory and the dynamical mean-field theory. Not only the experimental photoemission spectroscopy is correctly reproduced, but also a possible hidden 5f itinerant-localized crossover is identified. Moreover, it is found that the quasiparticle multiplets from the many-body transitions gradually enhance with decreasing temperature, accompanied by the hybridizations with 5f electrons and conduction bands. The temperature-induced variation of Fermi surface topology suggests a possible electronic Lifshitz transition and the onset of magnetic order at low temperature. Finally, the ubiquitous existence orbital selective 5f electron correlation is also discovered in PuIn3. These illuminating results shall enrich the understanding on Pu-based compounds and serve as critical predictions for ongoing experimental research.
We address the fundamental question of crossover from localized to itinerant state of a paradigmatic heavy fermionmaterial CeIrIn5. The temperature evolution of the one electron spectra and the optical conductivity is predicted from first principles calculation. The buildup of coherence in the form of a dispersive many body feature is followed in detail and its effects on the conduction electrons and optical conductivity of the material is revealed. We find multiple hybridization gaps and link them to the crystal structure of the material. Our theoretical approach explains the multiple peak structures observed in optical experiments and the sensitivity of CeIrIn5 to substitutions of the transition metal element and may provide a microscopic basis for the more phenomenological descriptions currently used to interpret experiments in heavy fermion systems.
The physical properties of plutonium and plutonium-based intermetallic compounds are extremely sensitive to temperature, pressure, and chemical alloying. A celebrated example is the high-temperature $delta$ phase plutonium, which can be stabilized at room temperature by doping it with a few percent trivalent metal impurities, such as gallium or aluminum. The cubic phase Pu$_{3}$Ga, one of the plutonium-gallium intermetallic compounds, plays a key role in understanding the phase stability and phase transformation of the plutonium-gallium system. Its electronic structure might be essential to figure out the underlying mechanism that stabilizes the $delta$ phase plutonium-gallium alloy. In the present work, we studied the temperature-dependent correlated electronic states of cubic phase Pu$_{3}$Ga by means of a combination of the density functional theory and the embedded dynamical mean-field theory. We identified orbital selective 5$f$ itinerant-localized (coherent-incoherent) crossovers which could occur upon temperature. Actually, there exist two well-separated electronic coherent temperatures. The higher one is for the $5f_{5/2}$ state [$T_{text{coh}}(5f_{5/2}) approx 700$ K], while the lower one is for the $5f_{7/2}$ state [$T_{text{coh}}(5f_{7/2}) approx 100$ K]. In addition, the quasiparticle multiples which originate from the many-body transitions among the $5f^{4}$, $5f^{5}$, and $5f^{6}$ electronic configurations, decay gradually. The hybridizations between the localized 5$f$ bands and conduction bands are subdued by high temperature. Consequently, the Fermi surface topology is changed, which signals a temperature-driven electronic Lifshitz transition. Finally, the calculated linear specific heat coefficient $gamma$ is approximately 112 mJ / (mol K$^2$) at $T = 80$ K.
In heavy-fermion compounds, f electrons show both itinerant and localized behaviour depending on the external conditions, and the hybridization between localized f electrons and itinerant conduction bands gives rise to their exotic properties like heavy-fermions, magnetic orders and unconventional superconductivity. Duo to the risk of handling radioactive actinide materials, the direct experimental evidence of the band structure evolution across the localized-itinerant and magnetic transitions for 5f electrons is lacking. Here, by using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we revealed the dual nature (localized vs itinerant) and the development of two different kinds of heavy quasi-particle bands of 5f electrons in antiferromagnetic (AFM) USb2. Partially opened energy gaps were observed on one quasi-particle 5f band cross the AFM transition around 203 K, indicating that the magnetic orders in USb2 are of spin density wave (SDW) type similar to Cr. The localized 5f electrons and itinerant conduction bands hybridize to form another heavy quasi-particle band at about 120 K, and then open hybridization gaps at even lower temperature. Our results provide direct spectral demonstration of the localized-itinerant transition, hybridization and SDW transition of 5f electrons for uranium-based materials.
A quantum critical point (QCP) of the heavy fermion Ce(Ru_{1-x}Rh_x)_2Si_2 (x = 0, 0.03) has been studied by single-crystalline neutron scattering. By accurately measuring the dynamical susceptibility at the antiferromagnetic wave vector k_3 = 0.35 c^*, we have shown that the energy width Gamma(k_3), i.e., inverse correlation time, depends on temperature as Gamma(k_3) = c_1 + c_2 T^{3/2 +- 0.1}, where c_1 and c_2 are x dependent constants, in a low temperature range. This critical exponent 3/2 +- 0.1 proves that the QCP is controlled by that of the itinerant antiferromagnet.
We report results from neutron scattering experiments on single crystals of YbBiPt that demonstrate antiferromagnetic order characterized by a propagation vector, $tau_{rm{AFM}}$ = ($frac{1}{2} frac{1}{2} frac{1}{2}$), and ordered moments that align along the [1 1 1] direction of the cubic unit cell. We describe the scattering in terms of a two-Gaussian peak fit, which consists of a narrower component that appears below $T_{rm{N}}~approx 0.4$ K and corresponds to a magnetic correlation length of $xi_{rm{n}} approx$ 80 $rm{AA}$, and a broad component that persists up to $T^*approx$ 0.7 K and corresponds to antiferromagnetic correlations extending over $xi_{rm{b}} approx$ 20 $rm{AA}$. Our results illustrate the fragile magnetic order present in YbBiPt and provide a path forward for microscopic investigations of the ground states and fluctuations associated with the purported quantum critical point in this heavy-fermion compound.