Measurements have been made of the short-range spin correlations in USb, a metallic compound that orders antiferromagnetically. The system has no transverse fluctuations, and the longitudinal spin correlations are anisotropic, showing stronger interactions within the ferromagnetic sheets than between them. The results of this and other experiments can be understood with simple concepts involving the bonding of $5f$ electrons.

• Received 19 December 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.40.523