Anomalous behavior of the Debye temperature in Fe-rich Fe-Cr alloys

TL;DR

This study investigates the anomalous variation of Debye temperature in Fe-rich Fe-Cr alloys, revealing a maximum at specific compositions and suggesting a significant role of electron-phonon interactions in these materials.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of Debye temperature behavior in Fe-Cr alloys and links it to electron-phonon interactions and other magnetic properties.

Findings

Debye temperature peaks at x ≈ 5 in Fe-Cr alloys

Maximum increase of ~30% in Debye temperature compared to pure Fe

Correlation between Debye temperature maximum and other magnetic properties

Abstract

Debye temperature, $\Theta_D$, of Fe-rich Fe$_{100-x}$Cr$_x$ disordered alloys with $0\le x \le 22.3$ was determined from the temperature dependence of the central shift of M\"ossbauer spectra recorded in the temperature range of 60 -- 300 K. Its compositional dependence shows a maximum at $x \approx 5$ with a relative increase of $\sim 30$% compared to a pure iron. The composition at which the effect occurs correlates well with that at which several other quantities, e. g. the Curie temperature and the spin-wave stiffness coefficient, $D_0$, show their maxima, but the enhancement of $\Theta_D$ is significantly greater and comparable with the enhancement of the hyperfine field (spin-density of itinerant $s$-like electrons) in the studied system. The results suggest that the electron-phonon interaction is important in this alloy system.