Soft X-ray measurements of the electronic states of various Mg-In phases

Our present paper deals with the experiments on various phases of Mg-In (40%) alloy as measured by soft,X-ray emission spectroscopy (SXES). Only the Mg L-2,L-3-line was measured due to the low intensity of the Indium lines. The composition was chosen as it could form various crystal structures without any change in overall composition. The changes in the soft X-ray spectra (which monitor the s+d partial density of electronic states) were compared with the phases present and certain features of the spectra are identified with the presence of particular crystal structures. A distinct linear dependence was observed between the average electronic energy and the bandwidth at half maximum (BWHM) which is related to the heat treatment. We concluded that the stability of these phases has a different mechanism than the electronic stabilisation we have found in the metastable states in dilute alloys. The effects of alloying on the L-1-L-2,L-3 radiative transition were analysed and increased intensity was recorded, especially when the alloy was close to its equilibrium structure. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.