High-quality single crystal growth and Fermi surface properties in f-electron systems

High-quality single crystals of rare earth and actinide compounds were grown by using several kinds of techniques such as the Czochralski method, flux method, chemical transport method and Bridgman method, together with purification of a uranium ingot by the solid state electrotransport method. For these single crystals, the de Haas-van Alphen experiment was carried out to clarify the Fermi surface properties, focusing on the quasi-two-dimensional electronic state of RTX5 (R: rare earth, T: transition metal, X: In and Ga) and AnTX(5) (An: Th, U, Np and Pu), which were compared with the results of the energy band calculation. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.