MOSSBAUER STUDY OF FE2+ IN THE LOW-TEMPERATURE PHASE OF FE3O4

Mössbauer spectra of the low temperature phase of single crystal magnetite were measured with a magnetic field along various directions in (110) plane after cooled in the magnetic field along [112]. Measured spectra were found to be sensitive to the direction of the applied magnetic field. As the result of detailed analysis two kinds of Fe2+ ions (Fe2+-I and II) were clearly recognized and the principal Z-axis of EFG was found to be along [100] or [010] for Fe2+-I and [001] for Fe2+-II. Since the observed anisotropy of the internal magnetic field is well described by EFG observed, angular momentum of each Fe2+ ion is suggested to be quenched. © 1979, THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.