Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths, Volume 17 - Lanthanides/Actinides: Physics I

This volume of the Handbook is the first of a three volume set of reviews devoted to the interrelationships, similarities, differences and contrasts of the lanthanide and actinide series of elements. In order to comprehensively cover this large field two leading scientists, G.H. Lander and G.R. Choppin, were invited to be guest editors for this special set of volumes. Together, the four editors carefully and critically chose the various topics and invited the appropriate experts to write reviews keeping in mind that the emphasis was to be on the interrelationships of the lanthanides and actinides. The volume contains eight chapters concerned with some of the physical aspects of the lanthanide and actinide series. The first three chapters are theoretical in nature and the last five are more heavily oriented towards experimental studies. Covers topics pertaining to solid state physics and materials science, and describes organic (and inorganic) reactions mediated by tetravalent cerium-based oxidants and by divalent samarium-based reductants. This book also focuses on the synthesis and use of divalent samarium-based reductants in organic and inorganic reactions. Most calculations of the electronic structure of solids, including those performed for f electron metals, are based on density functional theory within the Kohn-Sham ansatz to which, in turn, a local density (LDA) or local spin density (LSDA) approximation is applied. Deals with the chemistry, materials science, physics and technology of the rare earth elements.