Core-Level Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study of UTe<sub>2</sub>
Shin‐ichi Fujimori, Ikuto Kawasaki, Yukiharu Takeda, Hiroshi Yamagami, Ai Nakamura, Yoshiya Homma, Dai Aoki
Abstract
The valence state of UTe$_2$ was studied by core-level photoelectron spectroscopy. The main peak position of the U $4f$ core-level spectrum of UTe$_2$ coincides with that of UB$_2$, which is an itinerant compound with a nearly $5f^3$ configuration. However, the main peak of UTe$_2$ is broader than that of UB$_2$, and satellite structures are observed in the higher binding energy side of the main peak, which are characteristics of mixed-valence uranium compounds. These results suggest that the U 5$f$ state in UTe$_2$ is in a mixed valence state with a dominant contribution from the itinerant $5f^3$ configuration.
Topics & Concepts
Valence (chemistry)X-ray photoelectron spectroscopyBinding energySpectroscopyAtomic physicsPhotoemission spectroscopyValence bandChemistryPhysicsCrystallographyNuclear magnetic resonanceCondensed matter physicsBand gapQuantum mechanicsOrganic chemistryRare-earth and actinide compoundsNuclear Materials and PropertiesRadioactive element chemistry and processing