Resonant x-ray magnetic scattering from U1-xNpxRu2Si2 alloys

We have studied U1-xNpxRu2Si2 alloys with x=0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 using resonant x-ray magnetic scattering. For the x=1 neptunium compound we have confirmed previous neutron scattering results, but with much higher count rates and improved q resolution. Using the element specificity of the method, we have found that the temperature dependence of the uranium and the neptunium moments differ in the mixed U1-xNpxRu2Si2 solid solutions and we present some tentative explanations for this behavior. In principle, by measuring the responses at the individual M edges we are able to determine the ratio of the magnetic moments on the two magnetic species in the random alloys. The observed variation of intensity versus energy is compared to a calculation of a x=0.50 alloy using a localized model and a coherent superposition of U4+ and Np3+ ions. The agreement between theory and experiment is reasonable, suggesting a ratio μU/μNp∼0.25 in this alloy. Since μNp is known to be 1.5μB for 0.10<~x<~1, the uranium moment is ∼0.4μB. This is much larger than 0.02μB known to exist in URu2Si2 (x=0). The increase is a consequence of the molecular field of the ordered Np3+ moments and is consistent with the crystal-field model proposed for the U4+ ground state.