X-RAY-DIFFRACTION INVESTIGATION OF SPIN REORIENTATION IN SMFE2

Spontaneous magnetoelastic crystal lattice distortions in the spin-reo rientation region of high magnetostrictive SmFe2 have been investigate d by X-ray diffraction in the temperature range 80-300 K. Comparison o f experimental shapes of X-ray diffraction lines with calculated shape s shows that, in the region of the spin-reorientation transition, a mi xture of [110] and [111] phases rather than the angular [uuw]-type pha se is realized. The temperature dependence of the relative volume cont ent of [110] and [111] phases is determined using least-squares fittin g.