We present the result of an extended experimental characterization of the hexagonal intermetallic Haucke compound NpNi$_{5}$. By combining macroscopic and shell-specific techniques, we determine the 5$f$-shell occupation number $n_f$ close to 4 for t
he Np ions, together with orbital and spin components of the ordered moment in the ferromagnetic phase below T$_C$ = 16 K ($mu_{S}$ = -1.88~$mu_{B}$ and $mu_{L}$ = 3.91~$mu_{B}$). The apparent coexistence of ordered and disordered phases observed in the M{o}ssbauer spectra is explained in terms of slow relaxation between the components of a quasi-triplet ground state. The ratio between the expectation value of the magnetic dipole operator and the spin magnetic moment ($3langle T_{z}rangle/ langle S_{z}rangle$ = +1.43) is positive and large, suggesting a localized character of the 5$f$ electrons. The angular part of the spin-orbit coupling ($langlevec{ell}cdotvec{s}rangle$ = -5.55) is close to the value of -6.25 calculated for trivalent Np ions in intermediate coupling approximation. The results are discussed against the prediction of first-principle electronic structure calculations based on the spin-polarized local spin density approximation plus Hubbard interaction, and of a mean field model taking into account crystal field and exchange interactions.
NpCoGe, the neptunium analogue of the ferromagnetic superconductor UCoGe, has been investigated by dc-magnetization, ac-susceptibility, specific heat, electrical resistivity, Hall effect, 237Np Moessbauer spectroscopy and LSDA calculations. NpCoGe ex
hibits an antiferromagnetic ground state with a Neel temperature TN = 13 K and an average ordered magnetic moment <mNp> = 0.80 mB. The magnetic phase diagram has been determined and shows that the antiferromagnetic structure is destroyed by the application of a magnetic field (around 3 T). The value of the isomer shift suggests a Np3+ charge state (configuration 5f4). A high Sommerfeld coefficient value for NpCoGe (170 mJ mol-1K-2) is inferred from specific heat. LSDA calculations indicate strong magnetic anisotropy and easy magnetization along the c-axis. Moessbauer data and calculated exchange interactions support the possible occurrence of an elliptical spin spiral structure in NpCoGe. The comparison with NpRhGe and uranium analogues suggests the leading role of 5f-d hybridization, the rather delocalized character of 5f electrons in NpCoGe and the possible proximity of NpRuGe or NpFeGe to a magnetic quantum critical point.
The structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties of a new plutonium based compound, Pu2Pt3Si5, are reported. Single crystals produced by a Sn-flux technique have been analyzed showing a ferromagnetic behavior at 58 K. Pu2Pt3Si5 crystallizes in
the U2Co3Si5-type orthorhombic Iabm structure (72) with atomic parameters a = 9.9226(2) AA, b = 11.4436(2) AA and c = 6.0148(1) AA. The effective (mu_eff ~0.74 mu_B) and saturated (mu_sat ~0.32 B/Pu) moments as well as the Sommerfeld coefficient (gamma_e ~2 mJ.mol-1.K-2/Pu) could point towards 5f localization in this material.
We present measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity and electrical resistivity of Pu$_{1-x}$Lu$_x$Pd$_3$, with $x$=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1. PuPd$_3$ is an antiferromagnetic heavy fermion compound with $T_N=24$~K. With increasing
Lu doping, both the Kondo and RKKY interaction strengths fall, as judged by the Sommerfeld coefficient $gamma$ and Neel temperature $T_N$. Fits to a crystal field model of the resistivity also support these conclusions. The paramagnetic effective moment $mu_{mathrm{eff}}$ increases with Lu dilution, indicating a decrease in the Kondo screening. In the highly dilute limit, $mu_{mathrm{eff}}$ approaches the value predicted by intermediate coupling calculations. In conjunction with an observed Schottky peak at $sim$60~K in the magnetic heat capacity, corresponding to a crystal field splitting of $sim$12~meV, a mean-field intermediate coupling model with nearest neighbour interactions has been developed.
