Experimental observation of 5f valence fluctuations by high-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy in UPdCd

廣瀬 雄介; 本多 史憲*; 土塔 寛*; 河村 直己*; Kvashnina, K. O.*; Amidani, L.*; Uhlov, K.*; Koloren, J.*; Havela, L.*

Hirose, Yusuke; Honda, Fuminori*; Doto, Hiroshi*; Kawamura, Naomi*; Kvashnina, K. O.*; Amidani, L.*; Uhlov, K.*; Koloren, J.*; Havela, L.*

The regime of valence fluctuations, known from anomalous rare-earth systems with slow fluctuations between two different fn states, has not yet been identified by microscopic techniques at any Uranium compound. The reason may be in the predominant band character of U intermetallic compounds. Here we present U-L3 and M4 X-ray absorption spectra taken on UPdCd, which is a heavy-Fermion antiferromagnet. Although it has only one type of U site, the spectra obtained in the High Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detection mode display two edges, each associated with different valence states, 5f2 and 5f3. This is strongly suggestive of slow f2 - f3 fluctuations on the timescale longer than the characteristic time of the spectroscopy technique. Unlike 4f systems in which such fluctuations lead to a destruction of magnetism due to involvement of one non-magnetic state, the f2 and f3 states in U are both possibly magnetic, allowing for the magnetic ordering in the fluctuating state. Such a new situation can bring more light into emergent phenomena observable in U systems at the verge of 5f localization.