Electronic Properties of UNi<sub>0.34</sub>Ge<sub>2</sub> Probed by Thermoelectric Power

ORAL

Abstract

UNi1-xGe2 crystallizes in a structure closely related to that of the ferromagnetic superconductor UGe2. It exhibits long-range antiferromagnetic order of uranium moments below the Néel temperature TN = 45.5(1). The magnetic anisotropy studies revealed two easy axes, b and c, lying within the plane of uranium zigzag chains. A first-order metamagnetic transition from the antiferromagnetic to a field-polarized paramagnetic state occurs, when a magnetic field is applied along these crystallographic directions, with associated magnetic hysteresis of a width of up to ~40 kOe at the lowest temperatures.

In this contribution, we present results of comprehensive studies of UNi1-xGe2 (x = 0.66), including low-temperature crystal structure, thermoelectric power, resistivity and thermal conductivity, and compare them with the results of DFT band structure calculations and photoemission (UPS) measurements.

*A.P.P. acknowledges financial support from the Polish–U.S. Fulbright Commission through the Fulbright Senior Award program (2025/2026 edition), which enabled his research stay at Idaho National Laboratory. K.G. and S.R. acknowledge support from the US Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences, and Engineering Division.

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Presenters

  • Adam Pikul

    • Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
    • Idaho National Laboratory
    • Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA

Authors

  • Adam Pikul

    • Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
    • Idaho National Laboratory
    • Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA

  • Gabriel Kuderowicz

    • AGH University of Krakow

  • Bartlomiej Wiendlocha

    • AGH University of Krakow

  • Sabin Regmi

    • Center for Quantum Actinide Science and Technology, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
    • Idaho National Laboratory
    • Center for Quantum Actinide Science and Technology, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA

  • Maria Szlawska

    • Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences

  • Masashi Ohashi

    • Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University

  • Anna Gągor

    • Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences

  • Mathieu Pasturel

    • Univ Rennes, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, UMR6226

  • Krzysztof Gofryk

    • Center for Quantum Actinide Science and Technology, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
    • Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA