Calculation of a Local-Environment Effect on the Atomic Magnetic Moment in Ferromagnetic Ni–Cu Alloys

Abstract

An effective-medium (HF-cluster-CPA) theory by Miwa and the present author to study the local-environment effect in ferromagnetic transition-metal alloys is extended in a phenomenological way to treat an effect of s and p states in a certain group of alloys of transition metals with non-transition metals. The theory is applied to Ni–Cu alloys where, like Fe–V alloys discussed in a previous article, a local-environment effect is substantial; the HF-cluster-CPA improves a single-site HF-CPA even in the bulk magnetic property, e.g., the spontaneous magnetization. An interpretation is also given to a qualitative difference in the property of the atomic magnetic moment between Ni in Ni–Cu and Fe in Fe–V.