OBSERVATION OF THE LOW-TEMPERATURE MARTENSITIC-TRANSFORMATION IN LI AND A LI-MG ALLOY BY SOFT-X-RAY EMISSION

The martensitic transformation that occurs in pure Li metal and in alloys of Li with Mg has been well documented from the results of x-ray diffraction and electrical resistivity measurements. We present here soft x-ray emission spectra from both bulk and evaporated samples of pure Li metal and of a Li + 10.7 at. % Mg allow subjected to various cold-working and thermal treatments. We observe effects in the spectra from bulk samples of both pure Li and the alloy which we interpret as resulting from the transition; for samples prepared by evaporation of pure Li onto cooled substrates these effects are not observed.