Measurements of relative bond energies in some ordered nickel-based alloys by field-ion microscopy

The field-ion images from stoichiometric Ni3Fe, Ni3Al and Ni3Mn are analysed in detail on the assumption that the binding of the surface atoms can be described in terms of the nearest neighbour interactions. It is found that this simple approach is capable of yielding useful information on the relative bond energies which is correlated with the ordering behaviour. For Ni3Fe and Ni3Al first nearest neighbour interactions are dominant, whilst for Ni3Mn the second nearest neighbours assume some importance.