No evidence of a bulk charge density wave in alpha-Np or alpha-Pu at 10 K through electron diffraction

Abstract

Bulk charge density waves exist in orthorhombic alpha-U metal at low temperature. Accordingly, many have pondered whether such charge modulations may occur in alpha-Np or alpha-Pu, since each are low-symmetry 5f metals with orthorhombic and monoclinic crystal structures, respectively. Here, we report there is no evidence of a bulk charge density wave in alpha-Np or alpha-Pu at 10 degrees K through the use of electron diffraction on single-crystal regions of polycrystalline metal samples.