Plutonium physics: Unusual expansion explained

Plutonium possesses some mysterious properties, including a 25% increase in volume during the passage from its a phase to the d-phase, the latter stable at around 600 K. Understanding the effect is crucial in relation to the long-term storage and disposal of plutonium. Savrasov et al. have used a new approach to the physics of solids, applying dynamical mean field theory, to explain this volume expansion phenomenon.

Correlated electrons in d-plutonium within a dynamical mean-field picture
S. Y. SAVRASOV, G. KOTLIAR & E. ABRAHAMS
Nature 410, 793-795 (12 April 2001)
| First Paragraph | Full Text | PDF (116 K) |

Condensed-matter physics: An expanding view of plutonium
R. C. ALBERS
Interactions between electrons make it hard to predict the properties of exotic metals, such as plutonium. Better calculations that include a thorough treatment of electronic structure are the answer.
Nature 410, 759-761 (12 April 2001)
| Full Text | PDF (157 K) |

12 April 2001 table of contents