Pairing Energies in the Actinide Series

Abstract

The authors' previous calculations of pairing energies for dⁿ configurations are extended to fⁿ configurations. The ground state of f², as in PuF₆, is shown to be nondegenerate whether the spins are paired or not. However, detailed calculations show the magnetic properties to favor the view that the spins are in fact paired. This assumption is also found to accord with the observed variation of vibrational frequencies for UF₆, NpF₆, and PuF₆.