Crystallographic and magnetic structures of U(Ni1-xTx)Al compounds

Quasiternary U(Ni1-xTx)Al compounds (T = Pd, Ru) belong to a large group of hexagonal UTX compounds (X = p-electron element). Neutron-diffraction expe riments performed on selected concentrations revealed that substitution ele ments occupy predominantly the site in AI-containing plane, preserving the U-Ni plane intact. The refinement of data taken at 2 K leads to strongly re duced U moments of < 0.8 mu(B) oriented along the hexagonal axis. Reduced m oments are a consequence of a strong hybridization between 5f with other el ectron states. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.