Structural Change in Cr Microneedles Induced by Magnetic Field

Abstract

It is shown that the crystal structure of Cr microneedles growing in a strong electrostatic field is affected by an external magnetic field. The needles grown below 1000 G are fcc with lattice constant 4.10–4.12 Å, as determined by electron diffraction. The structure above 1000 G is the normal bcc structure with lattice constant 2.87–2.89 Å. Presumably, a high magnetic field modifies the distribution of electrostatic charges in the growing needles, thereby causing the structural change.