Neutron diffraction studies of the crystalline and magnetic properties of UFe2

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Abstract
Studies using both polarised and unpolarised neutrons have been performed on single crystals of the Laves phase intermetallic compound UFe2. The authors describe studies of the twinning characteristics (two crystals with a common (1, 1, 1) axis) of the sample, a feature that is probably common in these cubic compounds. They then describe studies with polarised neutrons to determine the magnitude of the spin and orbital moments on the uranium site. In agreement with a recent theoretical prediction these two moments are found to be almost equal, but oppositely directed in real space. The net moment at the U site is only 0.01 mu B. The polarised neutron experiments also allow them to put an upper limit on any possible anisotropy in the magnetisation. High-field magnetisation experiments up to (20 T) on the same crystal as used in the neutron experiments allow them to determine the conduction-electron polarisation.