Resistivity of Pu_0.76Am_0.24 under pressure

Abstract

Pressure effect on the electronic states of Pu_0.76Am_0.24 was studied using DC resistivity technique. Several regimes between 0 and 12.7 GPa were found for the compound. Zero-pressure data indicate that Am acts primarily as a non-magnetic impurity. At elevated pressures, scattering on spin fluctuations becomes pronounced because of broadening of the 5f-states of Pu and Am, until ∼8 GPa when these states are fully delocalized.

Keywords:

• High-pressure resistivity
• Actinide intermetallics
• Spin fluctuations

Acknowledgements

The support of the European Commission to the Actinide User Laboratory programme at ITU under no. AUL-P04-05-62 is acknowledged. A.V. Kolomiets acknowledges the European Commission for support in the frame of the ‘Training and Mobility of Researchers’ programme.