High Resolution Compton Scattering in Fermi Surface Studies: Application to FeAl

Abstract

We present a novel theoretical approach to identify Fermi surface contributions in high resolution Compton scattering data. For FeAl Compton profiles we show that the Fermi-surface-related features (occupation of states) can be separated from those originating from the spatial extent of the wave functions. The first high resolution Compton scattering experiment done at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility confirms these findings. This technique opens up new possibilities especially in Fermiology studies of high temperature superconductors.