Magneto-optical study of 5f states in UGa2

Abstract The complex magneto-optical Kerr effect and optical reflectivity were studied in UGa2 single crystal over a wide spectral range. This compound was shown to exhibit metallic behavior, however, with only small free carrier contribution to the optical conductivity. The strong interband transitions originating from the magnetic uranium f states were observed to extend to low photon energies giving rise to large polar Kerr angles in the near infrared region.