AVS 58th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition
    Actinides and Rare Earths Focus Topic Wednesday Sessions
       Session AC+MI-WeA

Paper AC+MI-WeA7
Advanced X-ray Spectroscopies on 4f and 5f Systems

Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 4:00 pm, Room 209

Session: Magnetic and Electron Correlation Effects in Actinides and Rare Earths
Presenter: Joseph Bradley, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Authors: J. Bradley, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
M. Lipp, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
A. Sorini, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Photon-in photon-out x-ray spectroscopies allow for a bulk-sensitive, high-pressure compatible look at rare earth and actinide electronic structure. The techniques couple to well-defined and meaningful quantum mechanical observables, including orbital occupation number and magnetic moment. These observables are key differentiators between theoretical treatments of strongly correlated systems, and they also provide meaningful and correct intuitive understanding. Here we will present an selection of measurements, both at ambient and high pressure, that exemplify the kind of insight these techniques can provide. In particular, we will address the question of rare earth volume collapse, where considerable controversy has existed between competing (Mott vs. Kondo) theoretical treatments.