Magneto-optics and electronic structure of uranium monochalcogenides

Abstract
Magneto-optic Kerr-rotation and ellipticity measurements of US, USe, and UTe at magnetic saturation reveal very large signals compared to other metals. This enhancement is attributed to the increased f-d overlap and the large spin-orbit energy of 5f and 6d states. For energies up to 5 eV, the diagonal and off-diagonal conductivity spectra are interpreted in terms of two interband (d→f and f→d) transitions and a free electron part. The f states behave similarly for all three uranium chalcogenides and are found to be delocalized. The conduction electron spin polarization is shown to be negative and it decreases from −40% to −35% to −20% going from US to USe to UTe.