Local Spin Configurations of Fe Atoms
in the Rh_1xFe_x (x = 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) System
with Competing Exchange Interactions

V. P. Parfenova, N. N. Delyagin, A. L. Erzinkyan, and S. I. Reman

Skobeltsyn Research Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Vorob’evy gory, Moscow, 119899 Russia

e-mail: parf@srdlan.npi.msu.su

Received November 24, 1999

Abstract—The local spin configurations of Fe atoms in the magnetically ordered alloys Rh_1–xFe_x (x = 0.1, 0.2,
and 0.3) have been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The Mössbauer absorption spectra are measured
in the range from 5 K to temperatures of the transition to the paramagnetic state. The measurements in magnetic
fields with a strength up to 5 T are carried out at a temperature of 4.2 K. Analysis of the magnetic-hyperfine-
field distribution functions demonstrates that Fe atoms form discrete sets of collinear spin configurations cor-
responding to different net moments of the nearest coordination sphere. The spin structure of the alloys is gov-
erned by a random distribution of Fe atoms over the lattice sites and the competition between the Fe–Rh ferro-
magnetic exchange interaction and the antiferromagnetic interaction of the neighboring Fe atoms. Nospin frus-
tration and spin “melting” effects characteristic of spin glasses are revealed in the Rh–Fe alloys. © 2000
MAIK “Nauka/Interperiodica”.

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