Lanthanides/Actinides: Physics - II

This is the third volume of a three-volume set of reviews devoted to the interrelationships, similarities, differences and contrasts of the lanthanide and actinide series of elements. It comprises five chapters on the comparative physics and thermodynamics of the lanthanide and actinide materials. The first two chapters are concerned with neutron scattering studies, while the next two are concerned with physical property studies involving electronic, thermal and magnetic behaviors. The final chapter covers the thermodynamic properties of metallic systems.

The first chapter compares the inelastic neutron scattering behaviours of the lanthanides and actinides. The next chapter concentrates on neutron scattering by heavy fermion single cyrstal materials, including metallic and semiconducting antiferromagnets and nearly insulating paramagnets. Chapter three, probably the most extensive and comprehensive one in the entire series, reviews intermediate valence and heavy fermions in a wide variety of lanthanide and actinide compounds, ranging from metallic to insulating materials. Chapter five focuses on two issues on the high pressure behaviors of anomalous cerium, ytterbium and uranium compounds. The final chapter is an extensive review of the thermodynamic properties of lanthanide and actinide metallic systems.