Magnetic Disturbance around the Interstitial-Site Mn Atom in MnSb

Abstract

Magnetization of ferromagnetic Mn_1+δSb (0≤δ≤0.22) with NiAs crystal structure decreases linearly with increasing Mn content. In order to study the magnetic disturbance and the lattice strain around the interstitial Mn atom, diffuse scattering of polarized neutrons from a slice of a single crystal of Mn_1.2Sb is measured. It is reconfirmed that the excess Mn atom has no magnetic moment with itself. The reduction of the magnetization around the excess Mn atom is observed to be limited within the first neighboring regular-site Mn atoms.