Spin and orbital structure of uranium compounds on the basis of a j-j coupling scheme

Abstract

Key role of orbital degree of freedom to understand the magnetic structure of uranium compounds is discussed from a microscopic viewpoint by focusing on typical examples such as UMGa$_5$ (M=Ni and Pt) and the mother compound UGa$_3$. By analyzing an orbital degenerate Hubbard model constructed from the $j$-$j$ coupling scheme in the cubic system, we obtain the phase diagram including several kinds of magnetic states. Especially, in the parameter region corresponding to actual uranium compounds, the phase diagram suggests successive transitions among paramagnetic, magnetic metallic, and insulating N\'eel states, consistent with the experimental results for AuCu$_3$-type uranium compounds. Furthermore, taking account of tetragonal effects such as level splitting and reduction of hopping amplitude along the z-axis, an orbital-based scenario is proposed to understand the change in the magnetic structure from G- to A-type antiferromagnetic phases, experimentally observed in UNiGa$_5$ and UPtGa$_5$.