Focus Topic: Actinides and Rare Earths (AC)

Actinides and Rare Earths exhibit unique and diverse physical, chemical, and magnetic properties resulting from the complexity of the 5f and 4f electronic structure. The Actinide and Rare Earth Focus Topic Session concentrates on the fundamental chemistry, physics, materials, and interface science of f–electron materials with an emphasis on all aspects of nuclear technology while facilitating the involvement of early career scientists. The Focus Topic examines the role of the 4f/5f electrons in the electronic and magnetic structure, interfacial science, and issues related to f-electron materials and nuclear technologies. The role of fundamental f-electron science in resolving challenges posed by actinide chemistry and materials will be central, particularly with regard to topics such as separation science, nuclear fuels, structural materials, nuclear energy processes, nuclear safeguards/forensics, and stewardship. Contemporary experimental approaches, including synchrotron radiation-based investigations and emerging techniques, all coupled to theory, will be featured to understand these complex materials. Specific sessions will be devoted to advances in experimental and theoretical approaches along with new sessions recognizing the resurgence of several targeted aspects of actinide science. There will be a particular emphasis on the inclusion of early career participants. Shared sessions will be with Applied Surface Science, Magnetic Interfaces/Nanostructures, Theory for Surface Processes and Spectroscopies Topic Area, and special Light Source Science Sessions.

  X-ray light sources have evolved from their traditional role as unique and powerful sources of energy-tunable and time-resolved electromagnetic radiation into nucleation sites for novel science. Currently, light sources provide singular and indispensable capabilities for advancing science and technology in many scientific fields. These special sessions will bring together facility principals and scientific leaders, as well as early career scientists, to showcase the most recent and powerful developments at these facilities, as well as plans for facility upgrades and future directions in experimentation. Specifically, the sessions will examine in detail the new possibilities for science that can be done in the tender X-ray with existing and future beamlines. The overall coherence characteristics of the upgraded light sources offer new and substantial opportunities for unique experimental design and time-resolving measurements.  These sessions will showcase the best and most impactful recent experiments built upon the unique characteristics of light sources, such as high energy resolution fluorescence detection, spectromicroscopy, ambient–pressure photoelectron spectroscopy,  hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and their key roles in contributing innovation to societally important science issues such as clean energy production, economic competitiveness, and general national security. Shared sessions will be with Applied Surface Science, Magnetic Interfaces/Nanostructures, and with several Topic Areas – Theory for Surface Processes and Spectroscopies, Laboratory-Based Ambient–Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy; and Actinide and Rare Earth.

AC1+MI+TH: Magnetism, Electron Correlation, and Superconductivity in the Actinides/Rare Earths

• Li Hao Tjeng, TU Dresden, Germany

AC2+MI+TH: Chemistry and Physics of the Actinides/Rare Earths

• Alyssa Gaiser, Michigan State University, “Promethium: the missing piece in the Americium and Curium Separation”
• Tsuyoshi Yaitai, JAEA, Japan, “Structures and Electronic States of Actinide and Lanthanide Complexes with Phenanthroline Derivatives”

AC3+AS+MI+TH: Emerging Topics and Methods in Actinide/Rare Earth Sciences

• Andrea Severing, University of Koeln, Germany
• Samuel Webb, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

AC4+AS+TH: Nuclear Safeguards, Forensics, Environmental Science, and Stewardship

• Claire Corkhill, University of Sheffield, UK
• Scott Donald, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, “Changes in Oxidation Mechanism with Relative Humidity:
  Application to Uranium Dioxide Powders”

AC5+MI+TH: Actinide/Rare Earth Theory

• Xiaosong Li, University of Washington, “Electronic Structure Methods for f-Block Elements: Are We There Yet?”

AC6+LX+MI+TH: Tender X-ray Science

• Dimosthenis Sokaras, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, “SSRL Advances in X-Ray Spectroscopy for Actinides Research”

AC7+TH: Time-resolved Studies

• Robert Schoenlein, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
• Linda Young, University of Chicago, “Attosecond Studies of Radiolysis at XFELs”

AC8+AS+LX+MI+TH: Facility Upgrades

• Dennis Mills, Argonne National Laboratory, “The Impact of Upgraded High-Brightness Synchrotron Lightsources on the Chemical Speciation of Nanoscale Heterogeneous Aggregates and Transformations”
• Jonathan Lang, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

AC9+AS+LX+MI+TH: Recent Capability Development

• Lynne Ecker, Brookhaven National Laboratory
• Tonya Vitova, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany

AC10: Actinides and Rare Earths Poster Session