Hybridizatioin effects - the evolution from non-magnetic to magnetic behavior in uranium-based systems

Hybridization of the f electrons with the conduction electrons and f electrons on adjacent ions drives the rich non-magnetic to magnetic behavior observed within the lighter actinides and intermetallic compounds containing these elements. Within and near this transition region, many of the very challenging problems associated with narrow band phenomena occur, e.g. strong spin fluctuations, spin glass behavior, itinerate magnetism, Kondo effect and heavy fermion behavior. Measurements of the temperature dependence of the specific heat, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility are presented for several uranium-based pseudobinary alloy systems which display a substantial variation in f-f overlap and/or f conduction electron hybridization. Such studies clearly display the role hybridization plays in the very interesting and varied features reported for these systems. (orig.)