Strongly Correlated Electron Phenonema in Rare Earth and Actinide Intermetallics

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9408835 Maple This project investigates strongly correlated electron phenomena in f-electron and d-electron systems. These phenomena include non-Fermi-liquid low temperature characteristics associated with unconventional Kondo effects in doped f-electron systems, superconductivity and magnetism in heavy fermion compounds and the formation of small energy gaps due to hybridization between localized f- and conduction-electron states in hybridization gap semiconductors (also called Kondo insulators). Rare-earth and uranium intermetallic compounds and alloys, in both polycrystalline and single crystal form, will be prepared and characterized. Transport, thermal, and magnetic measurements will be made over a wide range of temperatures. The research involves collaboration with a number of other universitities and national laboratories, including the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. %%% This project involves the study of a group of metallic superconductors called heavy Fermion superconductors. These materials differ in some of their properties from normal superconductors and the high-temperature copper oxide superconductors. The reasons for these differences are not understood, so investigations of the heavy Fermion systems may shed light on the perplexing problem of the high-Tc materials. New heavy Fermion materials will be prepared and characterized by a range of techniques. While these studies are of fundamental scientific interest, they are also of importance in the development of useful materials for industrial applications. The research involves collaboration with a number of other universities and national laboratories, including the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. The research will contribute to the training of postdoctoral research scientists and graduate students at UCSD and at the collaborating institutions. ***