Huge Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy in UMn$_2$Ge$_2$
ORAL
Abstract
We present an experimental finding, as predicted theoretically by one of the authors, of an extremely high uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energy - approaching 15 MJ/m$^{3}$ - in the 122 actinide ferromagnet UMn$_{2}$Ge$_{2}$. This large MAE appears to originate in the extremely strong Uranium spin-orbit coupling and the sizable orbital moment (approaching 2 $\mu_B$) on this atom. Implications for other 122 compounds are discussed.
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