Abstract
The multifaceted character of 5f electrons in actinide materials, from localized to itinerant and in between, together with their complex interactions with 6d and other conduction electron states, has thwarted efforts for fully understanding this class of compounds. While theoretical efforts abound, direct experimental probes of relevant electronic states and their hybridization are limited. Here we exploit the presence of sizable quadrupolar and dipolar contributions in the uranium L3-edge X-ray absorption cross section to provide unique information on the extent of spin-polarized hybridization between 5f and 6d electronic states by means of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. As a result, we show how this 5f-6d hybridization regulates the magnetism of each sublattice in UCu2Si2 and UMn2Si2 compounds, demonstrating the potentiality of this methodology to investigate a plethora of magnetic actinide compounds.
Highlights
The extent of f-state electronic hybridization with valence/ conduction band states is key in defining the physical properties of rare earths and actinide compounds
It is well known that 5f states of actinides can be directly probed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy at M4,5 (3d→5f) or N4,5 (4d→5f) transitions allowing determination of orbital and spin magnetic moment via X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) sum rules[17, 18]
We demonstrate this technique offers a unique opportunity to directly probe the magnetism of actinides compounds and address the question of electronic hybridization between 5f and 6d states
Summary
The extent of f-state electronic hybridization with valence/ conduction band states is key in defining the physical properties of rare earths and actinide compounds. These sum rules normally cannot be directly applied for the case of L-edges of rare earths and actinides due to the presence of 5f quadrupolar contributions in the XMCD spectra and the influence of the 5f-6d hybridization on the spatial extent of 6d orbitals.
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