Magnetic Structure of MnAlGe

Abstract

The ternary alloy MnAlGe has been studied by diffraction techniques using both neutrons and x rays. The unit cell is found to be tetragonal with a₀ = 3.914±0.001 Å and c₀ = 5.933±0.001 Å. The space group is D_4h⁷‐P4/nmm. The intensities in the neutron‐diffraction patterns agree with a ferromagnetic spin alignment of the Mn atoms with a magnetic moment of 1.40±0.12 μ_B each. The magnetic field dependence of the diffracted neutron intensities reveal a high magnetic anisotropy and a high retentivity.