Quantum size effects on the (0001) surface of double hexagonal close packed americium

Electronic structures of double hexagonal close-packed americium and the (0001) surface have been studied via full-potential all-electron density-functional calculations with a mixed APW+lo/LAPW basis. The electronic and geometric properties of bulk dhcp Am as well as quantum size effects in the surface energies and the work functions of the dhcp Am (0001) ultra thin films up to seven layers have been examined at nonmagnetic, ferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic configurations with and without spin orbit coupling. The anti-ferromagnetic state including spin-orbit coupling is found to be the ground state of dhcp Am with the 5f electrons primarily localized. Our results show that both magnetic configurations and spin-orbit coupling play important roles in determining the equilibrium lattice constant, the bulk modulus as well as the localized feature of 5f electrons for dhcp Am. Our calculated equilibrium lattice constant and bulk modulus at the ground state are in good agreement with the experimental values respectively. The work function of dhcp Am (0001) 7-layer surface at the ground state is predicted to be 2.90 eV. The surface energy for dhcp Am (0001) semi-infinite surface energy at the ground state is predicted to be 0.84 J/m<Superscript>2</Superscript>. Quantum size effects are found to be more pronounced in work functions than in surface energies. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 2007