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Magnetic pair distribution function analysis of local magnetic correlations
Author(s) -
Frandsen Benjamin A.,
Yang Xiaohao,
Billinge Simon J. L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.742
H-Index - 83
ISSN - 2053-2733
DOI - 10.1107/s2053273313033081
Subject(s) - pair distribution function , range (aeronautics) , distribution function , fourier transform , distribution (mathematics) , function (biology) , physics , neutron scattering , space (punctuation) , condensed matter physics , statistical physics , computational physics , scattering , mathematics , mathematical analysis , materials science , quantum mechanics , computer science , composite material , biology , operating system , evolutionary biology
The analytical form of the magnetic pair distribution function (mPDF) is derived for the first time by computing the Fourier transform of the neutron scattering cross section from an arbitrary collection of magnetic moments. Similar to the atomic pair distribution function applied to the study of atomic structure, the mPDF reveals both short‐range and long‐range magnetic correlations directly in real space. This function is experimentally accessible and yields magnetic correlations even when they are only short‐range ordered. The mPDF is evaluated for various example cases to build an intuitive understanding of how different patterns of magnetic correlations will appear in the mPDF.