TY - JOUR
T1 - Pressure-induced changes in protactinium metal
T2 - Importance to actinide-metal bonding concepts
AU - Haire, R. G.
AU - Heathman, S.
AU - Idiri, M.
AU - Le Bihan, T.
AU - Lindbaum, A.
AU - Rebizant, J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2003/4/1
Y1 - 2003/4/1
N2 - Protactinium occupies an important position in the actinide series of elements, as it represents the first of four elements (Pa-Pu) having 5f-electron character in their bonding at atmospheric pressure, We have determined in experimental studies with synchrotron radiation to 130 GPa, that the tetragonal structure of protactinium (space group 14/mmm) converts to an orthorhombic, alpha-uranium structure (space group Cmcm) at 77(5) GPa, where the atomic volume has been reduced by ∼30%. This structural change is interpreted as reflecting an increase in 5f-electron contribution to the bonding in protactinium over that initially present, becoming more similar to that present in alpha-uranium metal at atmospheric pressure, We determined experimentally that this structural transformation occurred at significantly higher pressures and at a smaller atomic volume than predicted by theory. The experimental results reported here represent the highest pressures under which protactinium metal has been studied.
AB - Protactinium occupies an important position in the actinide series of elements, as it represents the first of four elements (Pa-Pu) having 5f-electron character in their bonding at atmospheric pressure, We have determined in experimental studies with synchrotron radiation to 130 GPa, that the tetragonal structure of protactinium (space group 14/mmm) converts to an orthorhombic, alpha-uranium structure (space group Cmcm) at 77(5) GPa, where the atomic volume has been reduced by ∼30%. This structural change is interpreted as reflecting an increase in 5f-electron contribution to the bonding in protactinium over that initially present, becoming more similar to that present in alpha-uranium metal at atmospheric pressure, We determined experimentally that this structural transformation occurred at significantly higher pressures and at a smaller atomic volume than predicted by theory. The experimental results reported here represent the highest pressures under which protactinium metal has been studied.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038778535&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.67.134101
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.67.134101
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0038778535
SN - 1098-0121
VL - 67
SP - 1341011
EP - 13410110
JO - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
JF - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
IS - 13
M1 - 134101
ER -