Reconcile conflicting spectroscopic interpretations of the U 5f electronic structure

Establish a unified physical framework that reconciles the differing U 5f electronic structures inferred for UTe2 from ARPES, X-ray absorption, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, core-level photoemission, and related spectroscopic techniques.

Background

Different spectroscopic probes of UTe2 emphasize different aspects of the uranium electronic structure. Some measurements are interpreted as indicating a nearly localized 5f2 configuration, whereas others support an intermediate-valence state with substantial 5f2 and 5f3 admixture.

The review identifies the lack of convergence among these interpretations as a central challenge because a consistent account of the uranium valence, itinerancy, and hybridization is needed to connect the normal-state electronic structure to superconductivity.

References

While these approaches provide valuable and complementary information, their interpretations have not always converged on a unified picture of the $5f$ electronic structure of $. Reconciling these different perspectives remains an open and important challenge.

— Probing the electronic structure of $\mathrm{UTe}_2$ with ARPES and high-energy spectroscopy  (2609.36706 - Fujimori, 29 Sep 2026) in Section 1, Introduction

In contrast, the origin of the apparent discrepancy between this mixed-valence picture and interpretations based on $O$- and $M$-edge RIXS, which often favor a nearly localized $5f{2}$ electronic structure, remains an open question.

— Probing the electronic structure of $\mathrm{UTe}_2$ with ARPES and high-energy spectroscopy  (2609.36706 - Fujimori, 29 Sep 2026) in Section 8.2, “X-ray spectroscopy perspective on the 5f electronic structure”