Multipolar interactions in<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>f</mml:mi></mml:math>-electron systems: The paradigm of actinide dioxides

Abstract

This article reviews the physics of multipolar interactions and multipolar order in $f$-electron systems, using the actinide dioxides as a paradigm. In the past few years, these apparently simple cubic compounds have been studied intensively, and many new phenomena have been discovered. Here the experimental results are discussed together with the current theoretical understanding of multipolar interactions.