Probing 5f electronic hybridization in Uranium compounds via x-ray magnetic circular dichroism

TL;DR

This paper combines x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements with first-principles calculations to investigate 5f electron hybridization in uranium compounds, revealing insights into their electronic structure and physical properties.

Contribution

It introduces a novel methodology using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism to probe 5f hybridization in actinide materials, providing unique insights inaccessible to other techniques.

Findings

Quantitative analysis of 5f hybridization in uranium compounds.

Identification of quadrupolar and dipolar contributions to x-ray absorption.

Enhanced understanding of electronic structure influencing physical properties.

Abstract

We study the spin-dependent electronic structure of UTe and UT_{2}Si_{2} (T=Cu and Mn) compounds with a combination of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements and first principle calculations. By exploiting the presence of sizable quadrupolar and dipolar contributions to the U L_{2,3}-edge x-ray absorption cross section we are able to provide unique information on the extent of hybridization between 5f and 6d/3d electronic states, a key parameter regulating the physical properties of all actinide materials. Since this information is hardly accessible to other probes, the new methodology opens up new venues for investigating this important class of materials.