Application of coherent potential approximation to Ni-rich Ni-Cu alloys

Abstract

The electronic structure of Cu-Ni alloy has been studied for up to 50 at.% of Cu concentrations in the Ni-rich domain, using the coherent-potential approximation. Results are presented in both the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phase. Reasonable agreements with the experimental results on charge transfer, specific heat, Curie temperature, and the magnetic moments are obtained. The calculation lends support to the minimum-polarity model of Lang and Ehrenreich.