Electrical and magnetic properties of UFe$_{x}$ compounds

Abstract

UFe$_{x}$ alloys with compositions from x = 1.60 to 13.20 at. % of Fe, are superconducting with maximum transition temperature, Tc = 3.59 K. X-ray diffraction analysis, shows the existence of different compositions with formula $\alpha $-U+Fe and solubility limit close to x = 1.76 $\pm $ 0.87~at. % Fe. With increasing Fe the solid solution U$_{6}$Fe phase forms and coexists with the metastable $\alpha $-U+Fe until it saturates. The annealing process to the samples accelerates the formation of U$_{6}$Fe, modifying substantially the magnetic characteristics, but without changing its superconducting transition.