Valence instability across magnetostructural transition in USb$_2$

We have performed pressure dependent X-ray diffraction and resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy experiments on USb$_2$ to further characterize the AFM-FM transition occurring near 8 GPa. We have found the magnetic transition coincides with a tetragonal to orthorhombic transition resulting in a 17% volume collapse as well as a transient $\textit{f}$-occupation enhancement. Compared to UAs$_2$ and UAsS, USb$_2$ shows a reduced bulk modulus and transition pressure and an increased volume collapse at the structural transition. Except for an enhancement across the transition region, the $\textit{f}$-occupancy decreases steadily from 1.96 to 1.75.

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