%0 Journal Article
%A Marino, Andrea
%A Sundermann, Martin
%A Christovam, Denise Sacramento
%A Amorese, Andrea
%A Chang, Chun-Fu
%A Dolmantas, Paulius
%A Said, Ayman H.
%A Gretarsson, Hlynur
%A Keimer, Bernhard
%A Haverkort, Maurits W.
%A Andreev, Alexander V.
%A Havela, Ladislav
%A Thalmeier, Peter
%A Tjeng, Liu Hao
%A Severing, Andrea
%T Singlet magnetism in intermetallic UGa<sub>2</sub> unveiled by inelastic x-ray scattering
%J Physical review / B
%V 108
%N 4
%@ 2469-9950
%C Woodbury, NY
%I Inst.
%M PUBDB-2023-04840
%P 045142
%D 2023
%X Using high resolution tender x-ray resonant inelastic scattering and hard x-ray nonresonant inelastic scattering beyond the dipole limit we were able to detect electronic excitations in intermetallic UGa<sub>2</sub> that are highly atomic in nature. Analysis of the spectral lineshape reveals that the local 5f<sup>2</sup> configuration characterizes the correlated nature of this ferromagnet. The orientation and directional dependence of the spectra indicate that the ground state is made of the Γ<sub>1</sub> singlet and/or Γ<sub>6</sub> doublet symmetry. With the ordered moment in the ab plane, we infer that the magnetism originates from the higher lying Γ<sub>6</sub> doublet being mixed with the Γ<sub>1</sub> singlet due to intersite exchange, qualifying UGa<sub>2</sub> to be a true quantum magnet. The ability to observe atomic excitations is crucial to resolve the ongoing debate about the degree of localization versus itineracy in U intermetallics.  
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:001103167400001
%R 10.1103/PhysRevB.108.045142
%U https://bib-pubdb1.desy.de/record/588614