Magnetic scattering of neutrons by atoms

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Examines the magnetic scattering of neutrons by an atom or ion possessing both a spin and orbital magnetic moment. The calculation of the matrix elements of the Racah tensors is considerably simplified by selection rules based on the groups Sp(4l+2), R(2l+1), R(3) and in the case of f-electrons, the special group G2. It is shown that, in the case of elastic scattering by an atom or ion whose state is a single Russell-Saunders state, the magnetic scattering amplitude can be written in the conventional form p(q)qm.s. General expressions for the amplitude p(q) as well as the elastic magnetic form factor are obtained. The evaluation of the coherent magnetic scattering amplitude by an atom in a magnetic field is discussed, and the small-q approximation to the elastic magnetic scattering is considered. The formalism is illustrated for the important case of d- and f-electrons. The generalization of the formalism to the case of mixed atomic configurations is examined in some detail.