Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1625806 | Journal of Alloys and Compounds | 2007 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
Understanding superconductivity in PuCoGa5 presents several challenges due to the presence of local moments and self-irradiation damage. We present X-ray absorption fine-structure measurements that further establish the presence of local 5f-electrons. Moreover, these data indicate even stronger localization after the PuCoGa5 sample has aged, indicating a possible mixed valent ground state of the Pu atoms. Local structure measurements on this aged sample show an astonishing amount of damage, approximately 40% of the material after about 2 years. This amount of damage indicates that distortions around the Frenkel defects extend beyond the nearest-neighbor, and is qualitatively consistent with a percolation model for the destruction of the superconducting state after sufficient damage has accumulated.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Materials Science
Metals and Alloys
Authors
C.H. Booth, M. Daniel, R.E. Wilson, E.D. Bauer, J.N. Mitchell, N.O. Moreno, L.A. Morales, J.L. Sarrao, P.G. Allen,