A study of the magnetic structures of chromium-silicon solid solutions

Abstract

The antiferromagnetic structures of Cr-Si solid solutions in the range 1.5-6.0 at.% Si have been studied by neutron powder diffraction. The results confirm that the commensurate antiferromagnetic structure is stabilised at around 1.8 at.% Si. Both the magnetic moment and the Neel temperature are found to decrease with increasing silicon content and tend to zero at about 7.2 at.% Si. There is some evidence that the magnetic electrons are of Eg symme-ry and it is suggested that the reduction of magnetic moment is due to the stabilisation of the I2g relative to the Eg electrons in the chromium band brought about by the formation of covalent bonds with silicon