Publication
Title
Symmetry lowering at the structural phase transitions in $NpO_{2}$ and $UO_{2}$
Author
Abstract
 The structural phase transitions with electric-quadrupole long-range order in NpO2 (Fm (3) over barm-->Pn (3) over barm) and UO2 (Fm (3) over barm-->Pa (3) over bar) are analyzed from a group theoretical point of view. In both cases, the symmetry lowering involves three quadrupolar components belonging to the irreducible representation T-2g (Gamma(5)) of O-h and condensing in a triple-q structure at the X point of the Brillouin zone. The Pa (3) over bar structure is close to Pn (3) over barm, but allows for oxygen displacements. The Pa (3) over bar ordering leads to an effective electrostatic attraction between electronic quadrupoles while the Pn (3) over barm ordering results in a repulsion between them. It is concluded that the Pn (3) over barm structure can be stabilized only through some additional process such as strengthening of the chemical bonding between Np and O. We also derive the relevant structure-factor amplitudes for Pn (3) over barm and Pa (3) over bar, and the effect of domains on resonant x-ray scattering experiments.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics. - Lancaster, Pa, 1998 - 2015
Publication
Lancaster, Pa : 2003
ISSN
1098-0121 [print]
1550-235X [online]
Volume/pages
68:5(2003), p. 054112,1-054112,7
Article Reference
054112
ISI
000185240100038
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
 Faculty/Department Research group Publication type Subject Affiliation Publications with a UAntwerp address