Electronic state of PuCoGa5 and NpCoGa5 as probed by polarized neutrons

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Feb 22;100(7):076403. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.076403. Epub 2008 Feb 21.

Abstract

By using single crystals and polarized neutrons, we have measured the orbital and spin components of the microscopic magnetization in the paramagnetic state of NpCoGa(5) and PuCoGa(5). The microscopic magnetization of NpCoGa(5) agrees with that observed in bulk susceptibility measurements and the magnetic moment has spin and orbital contributions as expected for intermediate coupling. In contrast, for PuCoGa(5), which is a superconductor with a high transition temperature, the microscopic magnetization in the paramagnetic state is small, temperature-independent, and significantly below the value found with bulk techniques at low temperatures. The orbital moment dominates the magnetization.