Photoemission Investigation of the Band Structure of Ferromagnetic Ni-Al Alloys

Abstract

Photoemission measurements probing the electronic band structure of ferromagnetic Ni-Al alloys have been made with ultraviolet light, from 4.5 to 11.4 eV, to determine the optical density of electronic states down to about 6 eV below the Fermi level. Photoemission data were taken at room temperature on two Ni-Al alloys of compositions 92.0 and 95.4 at.% Ni. The results are interpreted in terms of the rigid-band model and scattering phenomena. The optical density of states is assumed to be the same for all the Ni-Al alloys investigated. Results obtained from a pure Ni sample cleaned by argon bombardment and heat treatment are the same as those of Blodgett from a pure Ni sample formed by evaporation onto a substrate.