A high pressure distorted α-uranium (Pnma) structure in plutonium

Under pressure many rare earths and actinide metals transform to α-U type structure or its lower symmetry distorted forms. We have reinterpreted the diffraction data of Dabos et al. for Pu [S. Dabos et al. J. Alloys Compd. 190 (1993) 237] and find that an Am IV type distorted α-U structure in Pnma space group can explain its high pressure phase. The structures of both the high pressure Am IV type phase and α-Pu, the 0.1 MPa phase, are shown to have a distorted hcp topology. The upturn in the atomic volume of Pu at 0.1 MPa can also be rationalized on the basis of this proposal.