Magnetic diffuse and small-angle scattering

Abstract

Magnetic neutron scattering is one of the most valuable tools in exploring magnetism. For disordered magnetic systems, in addition to Bragg scattering, diffuse and small-angle scattering give information. Experimental techniques of the two last mentioned methods are described. They succeeded in a microscopic explanation of magnetic alloys with paramagnetic, spin-glass, ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic character. Typical examples will be discussed in detail. Non-frozen local magnetic moments show quasi-elastic scattering, the half-width of which is a characteristic for the relaxation processes. By diffuse inelastic neutron scattering the temperature dependence and concentration dependence of such relaxation processes have been studied for classical paramagnetic, Kondo- and intermediate-valence systems. An additional impact to the field is to be expected from new developments of polarization analysis techniques.