Abstract

The magnetic structure and excitation in a localized 5f system U3Pd20Si6were studied by means of neutron scattering. Our neutron diffraction experiments ona single-domain sample uniquely determined a remarkable collinear structure dueto higher-order exchange interaction. We discovered a new type of spin-flop transitionwith collinear coupling. The localized nature of uranium 5f electrons with a 5f2Γ5ground state was clearly demonstrated by the observed crystalline electric fieldexcitation. We observed beautiful ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin-waveexcitation over a whole Brillouin zone. Surprisingly, however, a clear low-energyquasi-elastic component was also observed around the antiferromagneticzone centre. This low-energy quasi-elastic response is concluded to bethe excitation of the quasi-particles due to hybridization between 5f andconduction electrons. The observation of this localized and itinerant dualnature in magnetic excitation indicates the possibility of partial localizationbased on an itinerant and two localized 5f electrons proposed theoretically.

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