Anomalous Inelastic Neutron Scattering in bcc Zr-Nb Alloys

Abstract

Inelastic neutron scattering from bcc ${\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.92}$${\mathrm{Nb}}_{0.08}$ at 965\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C reveals features in the inelastic response which lack the average cubic symmetry of the lattice. This can be understood as arising from phonon modulation of quasistatic short-range order representing fluctuations into an incipient "$\ensuremath{\omega}$" phase.