Compton scattering studies of charge transfer in Fe-Ni-B amorphous alloys

The different Compton profiles for amorphous alloys of composition Fe 82-x Ni x B 18 (x=70, 41 and 12) have been studied using 60 keV and 412 keV gamma -radiation. The data have been analysed on the basis of the O'Handley and Boudreaux model, involving charge transfer from boron to transition metal 3d bands on alloying. This model, which is often invoked to explain the magnetic moment in these amorphous alloys, does not fit the measured Compton profiles and a simpler model, consistent with the experimental data, is considered. This is based simply on the free atom profiles of 3d states in nickel and iron with a small charge transfer from the conduction band to the nickel 3d states. The authors data also show that the iron and nickel sites in these alloys are weakly ferromagnetic.