Planar Coupling Mechanism Explaining Anomalous Magnetic Structures in Cerium and Actinide Intermetallics

Abstract

Cerium and light actinide monopnictides of NaCl structure have extraordinarily strong magnetic anisotropy, with unusual magnetic structures and transitions. We show that this behavior can be understood on the basis of a Coqblin-Schrieffer-type interaction, effectively treating mixing of $f$ and conduction electrons.