The influence of Cr-composition on the local magnetic structure of FeCr alloys

Element specific investigations using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) were performed on FeCr alloys for Cr concentrations ranging from 6 to 16 at.% Cr. Measurements at the Fe L edge show a scattered distribution of the spin and orbital magnetic moments which is not observed for the global bulk magnetic moment. The Cr is aligned ferromagnetic up to 16 at.% Cr and in opposite direction with respect to the Fe magnetic moments.