Charge-density wave and magnetic phase diagram of chromium alloys

The magnetic phase diagrams of all dilute Cr alloys can be explained by a simple theoretical model with coupled spin- and charge-density waves and a finite electron reservoir. If the charge-density wave and electron reservoir are sufficiently large, then the paramagnetic to commensurate spin-density wave transition becomes strongly first order, as found in Cr1-xFex and Cr1-xSix alloys. The observed discontinuity of the slope dT(N)/dx at the triple point and the bending of the configuration interaction phase boundary are also natural consequences of this model. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.