Structural investigations of amorphous transition element films: II. Chromium, iron, manganese and nickel

Abstract

Thin films of iron, chronium, manganese and nickel have been prepared in ultra high vacuum at 4 K and examined by scanning electron diffraction. Amorphous structures have been identified in iron, chromium and manganese and their respective interference functions found to be similar to each other and to that for cobalt. An argument is given supporting the concept of a truly amorphous phase devoid of crystalline order, as distinct from a miorocrystalline array. This argument is based not only on experimental structural results but on computer-simulated models together with magnetic and electron transport measurements. No evidence was found of an amorphous phase in clean nickel films. Some explanations are suggested for the inconsistencies between the present and earlier work, particularly in the case of nickel and iron.