Light scattering in heavy fermion compounds

Abstract We present results of Raman spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements in the actinide compounds UO 2 , UPt 3 and UBe 13 . The differences in the degree of localization of the 5f-electrons in the insulating UO 2 and in the metallic, heavy fermion compounds UPt 3 and UBe 13 are discussed. In both types of compounds we find evidence of localized electronic excitations, which yield a good fit of the magnetic susceptibility data. The spin relaxation of UPt 3 and UBe 13 at q ≈ 0 are determined experimentally from the quasielastic ligh scattering.