Melting of the light actinides

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we apply the Lindemann melting rule to the analysis of Debye-Waller factor data obtained by neutron powder diffraction for several light actinide phases. The anomalous melting points of the light actinides can be understood in terms of the temperature dependences of their elastic properties. We have extended the Lindemann rule to include temperature-induced elastic softening.