Abstract
The isochronal annealing of the low temperature accumulated damage from the radioactive decay of plutonium in α-Pu, δ-Pu 1− x Ga x ( x = 0.043) and δ-Pu 1− x Am x ( x = 0.224) was characterized using magnetic susceptibility. In each specimen, thermal annealing, as tracked by magnetic susceptibility, only commenced when T > 33 K and the magnetic susceptibility changes due to defects were fully annealed at T ∼ 300 K. The α-Pu magnetic susceptibility isochronal annealing data is similar to earlier measurements of resistivity characterized isochronal annealing. However, the δ-Pu 1− x Ga x ( x = 0.043) magnetic susceptibility isochronal annealing data, when compared with similar resistivity data, indicates that for this alloy magnetic susceptibility studies are more sensitive to vacancies than to the interstitials accumulated at low temperatures. The Pu 1− x Am x ( x = 0.224) alloy shows a remarkable change in properties, over a limited temperature range beginning where interstitial defects are first mobile, and characterized by an induced effective moment of order 1.1 μ B/Pu. This transient behavior may be evidence for a disorder driven low temperature phase transition, perhaps indicative of a compositional and structural proximity to a state possessing significant magnetic moments.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
