DIFFUSE NEUTRON-SCATTERING OF THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE PHASE OF FE3O4

Diffuse neutron scattering is observed for the high temperature phase of magnetite, Fe3O4, in an extended range in the (001) and (011) plane of the Brillouin zone. Contours of scattered intensity shows a charac teristic pattern, discs in the (100) plane around the Gamma points, sp heres around the X points, etc. The intensity of this diffuse scatteri ng increases with decreasing temperature down to the Verwey point and is attributed to the lattice distortion induced by charge fluctuation in the B site, or polarons. Symmetry and the polarization of the atomi c displacement are discussed on the observation.