Superconductivity in the americium metal as a function of pressure: probing the Mott transition

High-pressure measurements of the resistivity of americium metal are reported to 27 GPa and down to temperatures of 0.4 K. The unusual dependence of the superconducting temperature (T(c)) on pressure is deduced. The critical field [H(c)(0) extrapolated to T=0] increases dramatically from 0.05 to approximately 1 T as the pressure is increased, suggesting that the type of superconductivity is changing as pressure increases. At pressures of approximately 16 GPa the 5f electrons of Am are changing from localized to itinerant, and the crystal structure also transforms to a complex one. The role of a Mott-type transition in the development of the peak in T(c) above 16 GPa is postulated.     

Magnetic Properties of Np2Ir2In Investigated by 237Np Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The present study of Np₂Ir₂In completes the ²³⁷Np Mössbauer spectroscopy investigations of Np₂T₂X (T = Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt; X = In, Sn) compounds. Np₂Ir₂In is found to order at T _ord30 K and the complex Mössbauer spectra suggest the occurrence of a noncollinear modulated magnetic structure with an average magnetic moment on the neptunium _Np0.76 _B. The magnetic properties of Np₂Ir₂In are consistent with the general trends observed in the An₂T₂X (An =U, Np) isostructural family.