Spin-Dependent Elastic Scattering of Electrons from a Ferromagnetic Glass Ni40Fe40 B20

Published

September 1, 1982

Author(s)

Daniel T. Pierce, Robert Celotta, John Unguris, H Siegmann

Abstract

The dependence of the elastic scattering of electrons on the relative direction of the spin of the incident electron with respect to the magnetization of the ferromagnetic glass Ni₄₀Fe₄₀ B₂₀ was measured at various energies, angles, and temperatures. We show that this scattering is liquid-like, i.e., effects of crystal diffraction are negligible. Also, multiple scattering of electrons contributes less than 30% to the intensity in the backward scattering direction. Under these conditions, and with correction for electron attenuation, the scattering is atom-like. This yields a first insight into the spin dependence of electron scattering from single magnetic atoms in a metallic environment. The surface magnetization was found to decrease with temperature with the same power law as the bulk magnetization at low temperature in agreement with theoretical predictions by Mills and Maradudin.

Citation

Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics)

Volume

26

Issue

5

Pub Type

Journals

Citation

Pierce, D. , Celotta, R. , Unguris, J. and Siegmann, H. (1982), Spin-Dependent Elastic Scattering of Electrons from a Ferromagnetic Glass Ni₄₀Fe₄₀ B₂₀, Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics) (Accessed October 21, 2025)