# Role of f electrons in rare-earth and uranium intermetallics -An alternative look at heavy-fermion phenomena.

The origin of the large specific heat and the non-magnetic state observed at low temperatures in some f intermetallic compounds with uranium called heavy-fermion (h-f) compounds is discussed. Different existing theoretical models are briefly overviewed but it will be proposed to discuss the h-f compounds in terms of physical concepts worked out for rare-earth intermetallics . To remind, the magnetic and electronic properties of rare-earth intermetallics are understood by considering a few, two in the simplest but quite adequate approach, electronic subsystems i.e. the f electronic subsystem and conduction-electron subsystem (the individualized-electron model). These two subsystems are described by essentially different theoretical approaches referring to the localized and band magnetism.

In the discussion if the non-magnetic state observed in h-f compounds do refer to the local scale (single-ion) or to a collective many-body state some arguments will be given for the on-site effect. Namely, it can be rigorously proven that charge interactions via the Stark effect can produce the non-magnetic state of the localized $`f^{\text{ }n}`$ electronic subsystem also in case of the Kramers system (n is an odd number) . The full suppression of the local moment is attained by highly anisotropic charge distribution at the vicinity of the f-shell electrons. This highly anisotropic charge distribution is visualized by CEF parameters with significant values for higher-order terms. The charge mechanism for the formation of the non-magnetic state of the f magnetic ion is compared with other known mechanism like the Kondo-compensation mechanism (the spin type) and the hybridization, of f and conduction electrons, mechanism.

In view of the individualized-electron model the large specific heat originates from low-energy excitations between doublet levels of the Kramers state of the fn electronic subsystems that are slightly split due to exchange interactions. These excitations are many-electron excitations in contrary to single-electron excitations in the conduction-electron subsystem. It will be shown that magnetic and electronic properties of intermetallic systems with the f-electronic subsystem in a quasi-nonmagnetic Kramers state exhibit properties observed in h-f compounds. One can say that the h-f compounds are compounds with Kramers f ions that have difficulties, due to exotic ground state and weakness of exchange interactions, to form the well-established magnetic order. However, the system has to release the Kramers entropy before reaching zero temperature as is experimentally observed by the entropy of R ln2.

These phenomena will be discussed for some uranium h-f compounds with the hexagonal symmetry. For instance, the temperature dependence of the specific heat of UPd<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>3</sub> with a $`\lambda `$-type of peak at T<sub>N</sub> of 14 K and a Schottky-type of peak above TN has been very well reproduced by the U<sup>3+</sup> (5$`f`$ <sup>3</sup>) configuration .

Prezented at European Conf. Physics of Magnetism 93, 21-24 June 1993, Poznan, Poland (Committee: J.Morkowski, R.Micnas, S.Krompiewski)