Intrinsically localized modes in uranium and the prospect for finding them in plutonium

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Dynamic nonlinear localization, an emerging new area of materials physics, has the potential to fundamentally change our understanding of materials properties. These intrinsically localized modes (ILM) have been found forming in uranium above about 450 K. Comparisons with data from the literature shows that these ILMs influence many properties, including heat capacity, thermal transport, thermal expansion, and mechanical deformation. The existence of ILMs helps to explain many anomalies in uranium, some of which have been known for more than fifty years. Here, the possibility that ILMs may also play a role in the properties of plutonium is considered. The mechanism helps to explain the success of an "Invar-like" two-level model for the thermal expansion of Pu without the need to invoke local magnetic states, which have been ruled out experimentally. It also helps to explain an excitation observed in δ-plutonium that has energy consistent with the two-level model, but momentum dependence consistent with lattice vibrations. This excitation, energy and momentum dependence, is consistent with the non-equilibrium generation of ILMs and the thermal excitation properties of these ILMs are consistent with a two-level model. High-temperature inelastic x-rays scattering measurements of the phonon dispersion curves of δ-plutonium are needed to test this hypothesis.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Actinides 2008 - Basic Science, Applications and Technology
PublisherMaterials Research Society
Pages259-264
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781605110745
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventActinides 2008 - Basic Science, Applications and Technology - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 25 2008Mar 28 2008

Publication series

NameMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Volume1104
ISSN (Print)0272-9172

Conference

ConferenceActinides 2008 - Basic Science, Applications and Technology
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period03/25/0803/28/08

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