Magnetic Form Factor ofCo++Ion in Cobaltous Oxide

The van Laar model of the spin structure of CoO in the antiferromagnetic state is supported on the basis of neutron-diffraction data from a single crystal. Then, the magnetic form factor of the ${\mathrm{Co}}^{++}$ ion in CoO is calculated. The anisotropic part of the form factor is studied in detail to arrive at the ground-state electron configuration of the ${\mathrm{Co}}^{++}$ ion. The spherical form factor is determined and plotted as a function of $\frac{\left(sin\theta \right)}{\lambda }$ and compared with the theoretical form-factor curve. Attempts have been made to give some qualitative explanation of the deviation from the theoretical curve. Finally, conclusive evidence is put forward for discarding Roth's collinear model and Li's model from an analysis of the form-factor curves based on them.