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Nature 446, 504-505 (29 March 2007) | doi:10.1038/446504b; Published online 28 March 2007

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Solid-state physics: Vacillating valence

Robert C. Albers1 & Jian-Xin Zhu1

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Electrons in one particular solid phase of plutonium are complex characters: while bound to atoms, in a quantum-mechanical mixture of two different valence states, they also roam freely throughout the crystal.

Plutonium is the most puzzling element of the generally bizarre actinides, the group of metals that, together with the lanthanides, nestles below the standard periodic table. It is extremely sensitive to added impurities, and comes in six distinct solid phases below its melting point of just over 900 kelvin.

  1. Robert C. Albers and Jian-Xin Zhu are in the Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics Group, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
    Email: rca@lanl.gov

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