POLARIZED NEUTRON-DIFFRACTION STUDY OF FE2P SINGLE-CRYSTAL

Polarized neutron diffraction study of Fe2P single crystal has been carried out at liquid nitrogen temperature. The magnetic moments and magnetic form factors on both the tetrahedral FeI and the pyramidal FeII atoms have been determined from the observed flipping ratios for 21 different (kh0) reflections up to sinθ/λ∼0.71 A-1. The magnetic moments are µI=0.92±0.02 µB and µII=1.70±0.02 µB for FeI and FeII site atoms, respectively. The magnetic form factor on FeI atom is noticeably different from that on FeII atom. The results are explained as being due to the different degree of the covalent bondings with surrounding P-atoms for both Fe atoms. © 1979, THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.