Polarized Neutron Diffraction Study of Fe₂P Single Crystal

Abstract

Polarized neutron diffraction study of Fe 2 P single crystal has been carried out at liquid nitrogen temperature. The magnetic moments and magnetic form factors on both the tetrahedral Fe I and the pyramidal Fe II atoms have been determined from the observed flipping ratios for 21 different ( k h 0) reflections up to sin θ/λ∼0.71 A -1 . The magnetic moments are µ I =0.92±0.02 µ B and µ II =1.70±0.02 µ B for Fe I and Fe II site atoms, respectively. The magnetic form factor on Fe I atom is noticeably different from that on Fe II atom. The results are explained as being due to the different degree of the covalent bondings with surrounding P-atoms for both Fe atoms.