Electronic structure of Ni2TiAl: Theoretical aspects and Compton scattering measurement

In this paper, we report electron momentum density of Ni₂TiAl alloy using an in-house 20 Ci ¹³⁷Cs (661.65 keV) Compton spectrometer. The experimental data have been analyzed in terms of energy bands and density of states computed using linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method. In the LCAO computations, we have considered local density approximation, generalized gradient approximation and recently developed second order generalized gradient approximation within the frame work of density functional theory. Anisotropies in theoretical Compton profiles along [1 0 0], [1 1 0] and [1 1 1] directions are also explained in terms of energy bands.     

Magnetic and electronic properties of NiAs-type chromium chalcogenides

We have computed spin-dependent energy bands, spin moments and density of states of NiAs-type CrX (X=S, Se and Te) chalcogenides using linear combination of atomic orbitals method within density functional theory as well as full potential augmented plane wave method. In addition, magnetic properties have also been computed using spin polarized relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method. We have also obtained the first ever theoretical electron momentum densities of CrX compounds considering linear combination of atomic orbitals and compared the results with the isotropic Compton profiles measured using 20 Ci ¹³⁷Cs Compton spectrometer. The Fermi surface topology and magnetic properties are discussed in terms of majority and minority energy bands and density of states. In addition, to highlight the role of Cr (3d) electrons in such type of chalcogenides, we have also reported the magnetic Compton profile of CrTe using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method.     

Electronic properties and Compton profiles of molybdenum dichalcogenides

We present the first ever experimental Compton profiles of molybdenum dichalcogenides (MoX₂; X=S and Te) using 20 Ci ¹³⁷Cs Compton spectrometer. To interpret our experimental data, we have computed the theoretical profiles, energy bands and density of states using linear combination of atomic orbitals method in the framework of density functional theory and its hybridisation with Hartree Fock. The energy bands and density of states using full potential linearised augmented plane wave method have also been computed. Both theories show the existence of the indirect band gap. In addition, the relative nature of bonding is explained in terms of equal-valence-electron-density profiles and valence band charge densities.     

Electronic properties and compton profiles of silver iodide

We have carried out an extensive study of electronic properties of silver iodide in β- and γ-phases. The theoretical Compton profiles, energy bands, density of states and anisotropies in momentum densities are computed using density functional theories. We have also employed full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method to derive the energy bands and the density of states. To compare our theoretical data, isotropic Compton profile measurement on γ-AgI using ¹³⁷Cs Compton spectrometer at an intermediate resolution of 0.38 a.u. has been undertaken. The theoretical anisotropies are also interpreted on the basis of energy bands.     

Investigation of electronic properties of crystalline arsenic chalcogenides: Theory and experiment

The electronic structure of crystalline As₂S₃ and As₂Se₃ has been calculated in this paper. We present the energy bands, density of states (DOS) and the Compton profiles using the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) scheme based on the density functional theory (DFT). From the calculated total and partial density of states it is seen that the lone-pair p-states of sulphur/selenium contribute closest to the Fermi energy level. To interpret the theoretical data on the Compton line shape, we have measured the Compton profiles on a 100 mCi ²⁴¹Am spectrometer. It is seen that the density functional theory within generalised gradient approximation gives a slightly better agreement with the experimental momentum densities. The nature of chemical bonding in arsenic chalcogenides is studied using Mulliken's population analysis and the experimentally measured equal-valence-electron-density profiles; As₂S₃ is found to be more ionic compared to As₂Se₃.     

Electronic and optical properties of ceramic Sc2O3 and Y2O3: Compton spectroscopy and first principles calculations

We present the first-ever experimental Compton profiles (CPs) of Sc₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ using 740 GBq ¹³⁷Cs Compton spectrometer. The experimental momentum densities have been compared with the theoretical CPs computed using linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) within density functional theory (DFT). Further, the energy bands, density of states (DOS) and Mulliken's population (MP) data have been calculated using LCAO method with different exchange and correlation approximations. In addition, the energy bands, DOS, valence charge density (VCD), dielectric function, absorption coefficient and refractive index have also been computed using full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method with revised functional of Perdew–Becke–Ernzerhof for solids (PBEsol) and modified Becke Johnson (mBJ) approximations. Both the ab-initio calculations predict wide band gaps in Sc₂O₃ and Y₂O₃. The band gaps deduced from FP-LAPW (with mBJ) are found to be close to available experimental data. The VCD and MP data show more ionic character of Sc₂O₃ than Y₂O₃. The ceramic properties of both the sesquioxides are explained in terms of their electronic and optical properties.     

Electronic structure of hafnium: A compton profile study

In this paper, we report the first-ever isotropic Compton profile of hafnium measured at an intermediate resolution, with 661.65 keV γ-radiation. To compare our experimental data, the theoretical computations have also been carried out within the framework of pseudopotential using CRYSTAL03 code and the renormalized-free-atom (RFA) model. It is found that the present experimental profile is in better agreement with the RFA calculations if the outer electronic configuration is chosen as 5d^3.26s^0.8. The cohesive energy of Hf is also deduced from the experimental data and is compared with the available data. On leave from Hindu College, Sonepat 131 001, India     

Ab-initio study of structural and electronic properties of AlAs

The structural properties, i.e. equilibrium lattice constant, transition pressure, bulk modulus and its pressure derivatives, together with electronic properties, i.e. energy bands, Compton profile and autocorrelation function, of AlAs are presented in this work. The linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method of the CRYSTAL code was applied considering the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof correlation energy functional and Becke's ansatz for the exchange. The total energy of AlAs as a function of primitive cell volume has also been calculated for the zincblende (B3), nickel arsenide (B8), sodium chloride (B1) and cesium chloride (B2) phases. Structural parameters of the B3, B8, B1 and B2 phases are determined. The calculated structural parameters are found to be in good agreement with the results of previous investigations. The spherically averaged theoretical values of Compton profile are in good agreement with an earlier measurement. The LCAO calculation shows an indirect band gap of 1.85?eV, in reasonable agreement with earlier data. On the basis of the equal-valence-electron-density Compton profile, it is found that AlAs is more ionic compared to AlSb.     

NO与C2H2的康普顿轮廓研究

基于第三代同步辐射光源, 在20 keV的入射X射线能量下测量了NO与C₂H₂分子的康普顿轮廓. 考虑到本次实验结果在p_z ≈ 0附近的统计精度达到了0.2%, 本文报道的NO和C₂H₂的康普顿轮廓可以作为严格检验理论的实验基准. 除此之外, 还分别采用HF方法及密度泛函方法选用不同的基组计算了NO 与C₂H₂康普顿轮廓. 通过对比实验结果与理论计算, 发现对于NO分子, 加入弥散函数基组理论计算结果与实验符合更好, 说明NO分子基态的电子分布较为弥散. 对于C₂H₂分子, HF方法理论计算的结果与实验符合较好.     

Analysis of the electronic structure of ZrO2 by Compton spectroscopy

The electronic structure of ZrO₂ is studied using the Compton scattering technique. The first-ever Compton profile measurement on polycrystalline ZrO₂ was obtained using 59.54 keV gamma-rays emanating from the ²⁴¹Am radioisotope. To explain the experimental data, we compute theoretical Compton profile values using the method of linear combination of atomic orbitals in the framework of density functional theory. The correlation scheme proposed by Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof and the exchange scheme of Becke are considered. The ionic-model-based calculations for a number of configurations, i.e., Zr^+x (O^?x/2)₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 2), are also performed to estimate the charge transfer on compound formation, and the study supports transfer of 1.5 electrons from Zr to O atoms.     

Electron momentum density and Compton profile by a semi-empirical approach

Here we propose a semi-empirical approach to describe with good accuracy the electron momentum densities and Compton profiles for a wide range of pure crystalline metals. In the present approach, we use an experimental Compton profile to fit an analytical expression for the momentum densities of the valence electrons. This expression is similar to a Fermi–Dirac distribution function with two parameters, one of which coincides with the ground state kinetic energy of the free-electron gas and the other resembles the electron–electron interaction energy. In the proposed scheme conduction electrons are neither completely free nor completely bound to the atomic nucleus. This procedure allows us to include correlation effects.We tested the approach for all metals with Z=3–50 and showed the results for three representative elements: Li, Be and Al from high-resolution experiments.     

Electronic properties of the magnetocaloric compound GdAl2: A Compton scattering study

We present Compton profiles of the GdAl₂ compound and its constituents using a 20Ci ¹³⁷Cs Compton spectrometer. The experimental Compton data have been analysed using theoretical data obtained from the spin polarised relativistic Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker (SPR-KKR) method and also the charge transfer on the formation of the compound. Both the experimental and the SPR-KKR theoretical Compton data support a charge transfer from Al→Gd in GdAl₂, which is in accordance with the conclusions drawn from the partial, total and integrated density of states of GdAl₂ and its constituents.     

Compton profile study of V3Ge and Cr3Ge

In this paper the results of a Compton profile study of two polycrystalline A15 compounds, namely, V₃Ge and Cr₃Ge, have been reported. The measurements have been performed using 59.54 keV γ-rays from an ²⁴¹Am source. The theoretical Compton profiles have been computed for both the compounds using ab-initio linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method employing CRYSTAL98. For both the A15 compounds, the isotropic experimental profiles are found to be in good overall agreement with the calculations. The comparison points out residual differences in V₃Ge whereas for Cr₃Ge the differences are within experimental error. The behaviour of valence electrons in the two iso-structural compounds has been examined on the scale of Fermi momentum. The valence electron distribution seems to be dominated by the metallic constituents rather than Ge and two compounds show covalent nature of bonding which is larger in V₃Ge compared to Cr₃Ge.      

Compton scattering and charge transfer in Er substituted DyAl2

A unique applicability of Compton spectroscopy in probing the electronic states of rare earth aluminides using high energy (662 keV) γ-rays is reported. We have measured first-ever Compton profiles of Dy_1-xEr_xAl₂ (x=0, 0.2) using 20Ci ¹³⁷Cs Compton spectrometer. The charge reorganization in Dy_1−xEr_xAl₂ (x=0, 0.2), on the formation of compound, has been discussed using the valence band Compton profile data. The experimental Compton profile data unambiguously establish charge transfer from Al to Dy (Dy and Er) on formation of x=0.0 (0.2) compound, which is in tune with spin polarized relativistic Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker (SPR-KKR) calculations. A reasonable agreement between SPR-KKR based Compton profiles and the experimental data show applicability of the Green function method in predicting the electronic properties of rare earth compounds.     

Renormalised-free-atom model and electron momentum distribution in magnesium metal

We have computed the Compton profile for magnesium metal using the renormalised-free-atom (RFA) model. It is shown that compared to the earlier LCAO and pseudopotential calculations, the RFA results are in better agreement with the experiment.     

Electron momentum density and phase transition in SrO

In this article, we present electron momentum density distribution and phase transition in SrO. The experimental values of momentum density have been measured using 5Ci ²⁴¹Am Compton spectrometer and analyzed using theoretical data obtained from the ab-initio linear combination of atomic orbitals method. The first-principles calculations of the total energy of SrO as a function of cell volume have also been carried out for the cubic rocksalt (B1) and cesium chloride (B2) phases. Several structural parameters, i.e. equilibrium lattice constant, transition pressure, bulk modulus, etc. of B1 and B2 phases have been calculated and compared with the previous investigations. We conclude that the stable phase of SrO is B1 and the phase transition from B1 to B2 occurs at 35.8?GPa.     

Density functional calculation of Compton profiles of metals using phase-space approach

Spherically averaged electron momentum densities (EMD) in Al, V and Cu metals have been calculated by using density functional theory in the phase-space approach. Compton profiles, J(q) and expectation values 〈pⁿ〉 have been computed. These theoretical results show satisfactory agreement with the experimental data for Al, V and Cu.     

Electronic structure and fourier transformed compton profiles of crystalline semiconductors

Model calculations for the Fourier transformed Compton profiles of tetrahedrally coordinated semiconductors are presented based on the Weaire-Thorpe model Hamiltonian and Gaussian LCAO ansatz functions. The results show that the information content of Compton profiles is complementary to that of the density of states. They are almost independent of parameters in the Hamiltonian and depend only on the shape of the ansatz functions. The position of the zeroes of the Fourier transformed Compton profile are seen to be determined by the Bravais lattice structure and the number of valence electrons in the unit cell.     

Performance of 20 Ci137Cs γ-ray Compton spectrometer for the study of momentum densities

In this paper, we present the design and construction of a 20 Ci γ-ray Compton spectrometer that employs a¹³⁷ Cs source with a strong line at 661.65 keV. The total resolution of the spectrometer in momentum scale is 0.40 a.u., which is much better than the conventional²⁴¹Am Compton spectrometers. The in-house¹³⁷Cs spectrometer is very useful for the measurement of momentum densities of heavy materials. The performance of the machine is assessed using aluminum, terbium and mercury samples and the experimental data from comparable apparatus.