Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation measurements on 3d and 4f ferromagnets using polarized positrons

We measured the Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation (DBAR) spectra of 3d (Fe, Co, and Ni) and 4f (Gd, Tb, and Dy) ferromagnets under a magnetic field by using spin-polarized positrons from a Ge-68-Ga-68 source. The results showed that the DBAR spectra of these metals have notably different magnetic-field dependences. The differences among Fe, Co, and Ni reflect that the upper minority spin bands of Fe and Co are nearly empty while those of Ni are still mostly occupied. For the rare-earth metals instead of the inner 4f electrons, 5d electrons that mediate the exchange interaction of the 4f electrons are primarily responsible for the magnetic-field effects on the DBAR spectra. Furthermore, the magnetic-field effects on the DBAR spectra of Gd, Tb, and Dy vanished above the Curie temperatures of the magnetic-phase transition for these metals.