| AVS 66th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Actinides and Rare Earths Focus Topic | Monday Sessions |
| Session AC+LS+MI-MoM |
| Session: | Magnetism, Complexity, Superconductivity, and Electron Correlations in the Actinides and Rare Earths |
| Presenter: | James G. Tobin, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
| Authors: | J.G. Tobin, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh S. Nowak, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory C.H. Booth, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory E.D. Bauer, Los Alamos National Laboratory S.W. Yu, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory R. Alonso-Mori, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory T. Kroll, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory D. Nordlund, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory T.C. Weng, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory D. Sokaras, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
In a world of ever increasing population and diminishing resources, the need for abundant and inexpensive energy remains critical. [1] Despite the problems associated with radioactive contamination/disposal and nuclear proliferation, electricity generated by nuclear power remains immensely important, [2] providing for 20% of the electrical grid of the USA and 50% or more for several European nations. [3-6] Uranium Dioxide (UO2) is by far the widely used nuclear fuel for the generation of electricity. [7] Thus, a fundamental understanding of the electronic structure of UO2 is crucial, if only to provide the best theoretical models for its disposal and storage. [7, 8]
Using High Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detection (HERFD) in a Resonant Inelastic Scattering (RIXS) experiment and electric dipole selection rules, the U 5f5/2 and U 5f7/2 Unoccupied Densities of States (UDOS) were determined. Significant changes were observed in going from UF4 (localized, 2 5f electrons) to UCd11 (localized, 3 5f electrons), consistent with the predictions of the Intermediate Coupling Model. The results for UO2 were experimentally confirmed by direct comparison with the Bremstrahlung Isochromat Spectroscopy for Uranium Dioxide.
References
1. “Reasons for increase in demand for energy,” BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zpmmmp3/revision/1
2. Y. Guerin, G.S. Was, S.J. Zinkle, MRS Bull. 34, 10 (2009).
3. Nuclear Energy Institute, Nuclear shares of electricity generation, http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/nshare.html
4. Eleanor Beardsley, France presses ahead with nuclear power, Nat’l Pub. Radio, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5369610
5. Nuclear energy, Environmental Protection Agency, USA, http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/nuclear.html
6. Energy, electricity, and nuclear power: developments and projections-25 years past and future, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 2007,www-ub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/pub1304
7. F. Gupta, A. Pasturel, G. Brillant, Phys. Rev. B 81, 014110(2010).
8. J.G. Tobin and S.-W. Yu, Phys. Rev. Lett, 107, 167406 (2011).