Itinerant-5f-electron antiferromagnetism in uranium nitride: A temperature-dependent angle-resolved photoemission study

Abstract

A 5f-like photoemission peak emerges at EF-0.78 eV in normal emission from UN(100) upon cooling below TNeel=53 K. This is the first observation of its kind for f electrons. We believe that this peak arises from band states which are folded back into the new antiferromagnetic Brillouin zone owing to the doubling of the unit cell along 100. Isoelectronic USb, which has localized 5f electrons, does not exhibit such a temperature effect. Our results suggest that UN can be described within the theory of itinerant-5f-electron antiferromagnetism. © 1983 The American Physical Society.