Research

First observation of the Fermi surfaces in a plutonium compound

2005/11/30

  There are no reports of quantum oscillation phenomena (dHvA effect) in plutonium compounds because of the strong damage due to the high radio activity. We have succeeded in growing a high quality single crystal of PuIn3 and observed the dHvA effect in a short period of time. This is the first observation of the Fermi surfaces in plutonium compounds. The 5f electrons of plutonium atom are itinerant with heavy effective mass. The result was reported in "Nikkan-Kogyo Shimbun" on November 11. The paper was selected for "Papers of Editor's Choice" in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn.. The work has been done in collaboration with Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kyoto-Sangyo University and Osaka University.

 Fig. dHvA oscillations in PuIn3. (a) dHvA oscillations of a fresh sample, (b) after ten days.
Fig. dHvA oscillations in PuIn3. (a) dHvA oscillations of a fresh sample, (b) after ten days. 

Prof. Shiokawa group (Radiochemistry of Metals),
International Research Center for Nuclear Materials Science