Spin-polarized electron momentum density distributions in Pd<inf>1-x</inf>Co<inf>x</inf>alloys

Abstract

The spin-polarized momentum densities of disordered single-crystal Pd1-xCoxhave been studied using the magnetic Compton scattering technique, for the compositions x = 0.6 and 0.28. Magnetic Compton profiles have been measured along the three principle crystallographic directions in each sample, and compared with theoretical profiles calculated using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential approximation method. The calculated and measured spin-polarized momentum distributions, as revealed by their magnetic Compton profiles, are in excellent agreement. However the calculated spin moment for the composition with x = 0.6 is some 10% smaller than that measured experimentally, and for x = 0.28, the deviation becomes 15%. These differences are attributed to the effect of order in the samples, which becomes increasingly important in the Pd-rich side of the phase diagram. The orbital component to the magnetization has been determined as 0.08 and 0.18μBfor Pd0.4Co0.6and Pd0.72Co0.28, respectively.