Abstract
In this paper we suggest a novel explanation for the alpha-delta transition in plutonium based on an analogy between the evolution of the actinide ground state as a function of spin orbit coupling and the behaviour of thin film superconductors in a magnetic field. The key point is that in metals with a low carrier density spin-orbit interactions give rise to low energy monopole-like solitons with quantized spin currents, which play much the same role as Abrikosov vortices in thin film superconductors. In alpha-plutonium these solitons form an ordered solid, while in impurity stabilized delta-plutonium they form a pair condensate.
Connections
Explore this paper’s authors, topics and related work.
Building this map preview
BZPEER is loading the nearby papers, people, topics and institutions for this page.
Reviews 0
Write a review
No reviews yet.
Discussion 0
Add a comment
No comments yet.