Model of the α-γ transition in metallic uranium

It is shown that the geometric relationships between the lattices of cubic γ-uranium and orthorhombic α-uranium can be derived in a model of reorientable nonspherical atoms. The use of this model to explain qualitatively the anomalous relationship between the thermal expansion coefficients is discussed; it is in accordance with the properties of solid solutions and the magnetic properties of uranium chalcogenides