Observation ofd-Spacing Fluctuations above the Martensitic Phase Transition inV3Si

Abstract

High-resolution x-ray-scattering studies of the Martensitic phase transition in ${\mathrm{V}}_3$Si show significant pretransition $d$-spacing fluctuations at temperatures as high as 40 K above $T_{\mathrm{M}}\left(21\mathrm{} \mathrm{K}\right)$. Neutron scattering measurements, with similar resolution, show no broadening of the same Bragg peak. These striking results are compared with existing theoretical and experimental evidence for precursive effects in ${\mathrm{V}}_3$Si.