Discover the secret of Plutonium element

Researchers at Rutgers, New Jersey State University have unraveled the secrets of the chemical and physical properties of the famous plutonium element.

In a work published in Nature , the team reported that the valence electrons in solid plutonium metal fluctuate rapidly between the different orbital of atoms. This is contrary to the assertion of previous theories that there are a number of determinations of valence electrons on these orbitals.

The Rutgers team's discovery helps explain some of the puzzling features of plutonium: unlike many metals, plutonium is not magnetic and is not a good conductor, its volume changes abnormally much when change temperature and pressure .

(Photo: webelements) These discoveries, in addition to the scientific explanation, are also capable of helping scientists create safer nuclear materials for industrial, energy and medical purposes.

"A theory that allows the erratic fluctuations of valence electrons here can be used to explain very well the properties observed in the laboratory," said Kristjan Haule of Rutgers. He also pointed out the new results obtained from the X-ray absorption spectrum and the electron energy deficiency spectrum. "In addition, the theory accurately predicts the properties of two neighboring elements of plutonium, americium and curium. They have similar atomic structures but differ greatly in electrical and magnetic properties ."

This new theory is a very effective combination of two existing theories: Approximate theory of local density and dynamical average field theory. If done separately, each theory will not be able to describe all the observed physical properties of plutonium.

The work in Rutgers' Nature is also important to reinforce the methods of studying complex materials of neighboring elements with plutonium. They are mainly radioactive and rare earth metals, which have electrical and magnetic properties depending on the orbital electrons f. They are considered examples of strongly correlated materials, which have many complex and unusual characteristics.

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According to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Vietnam Physics