Magnetic Properties of Actinides and Their Compounds

Abstract

The first studies of the magnetic properties of the actinides concentrated on ionic and covalent compounds to obtain information concerning the actinide ionic charge. For the most part, these studies were confined to magnetic susceptibility measurements at room temperature and higher. Later, when sufficient information became available to indicate that the crystal-field interaction was strong, the measurements were extended down to liquid helium temperature. In the early 1950’s, the properties of uranium alloys were systematically studied by Professor Bates and his co-workers in England to obtain information on the band structure. About the same time, Prof. Trzebiatowski and his associates in Poland began a systematic examination of the magnetic properties of uranium intermetallic compounds, which is actively pursued today. Subsequently, groups at Harwell in England, at Fontenay in France, at Phillips Research Laboratory in the Netherlands, and at the AEC National Laboratories in the United States have studied the magnetic properties of neptunium, plutonium, and americium compounds using magnetization, neutron and X-ray diffraction, nuclear gamma-ray resonance (Mössbauer effect), nuclear magnetic resonance, electrical-transport properties, and low-temperature specific-heat measurements.

Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.