LOCAL MAGNETISM OF DILUTE CE IMPURITIES IN U-METAL - ROLE OF CE-4F, HOST-F ELECTRON INTERACTION ON 4F SPIN FLUCTUATIONS

Using the time differential perturbed angular correlations method we have observed a large magnetic moment with small 4f spin fluctuation rate for dilute Ce impurities in U metal. The magnetism of Ce in U, which deviates strongly from the trend observed in hosts with sp and d band conduction electrons, suggests that Ce moment stability is mainly governed by interatomic f-f interaction between the Ce 4f and host 5f band electrons. We propose that ferromagnetic f-f interaction can compete with and drastically suppress spin fluctuations arising from antiferromagnetic f-ds p hybridization, leading to higher moment stability. © 1995 The American Physical Society.