Use of Atomistic Techniques to Study Diffusion in Intermetallics

Quasielastic neutron scattering (QNS) and quasielastic Mossbauer spectroscopy (QMS) permit to deduce the jump vector of diffusing atoms. This is possible by comparing the angular dependence of quasielastic line broadening with model predictions. Results are reported for Ni diffusion in NiSb (B8) and Ni₃Sb (DO₃) and for Fe diffusion in FeAl (B2). For NiSb we conclude that the Ni atoms jump alternately between regular and interstitial sites. Ni₃Sb and FeAl contain high concentrations of vacancies; conclusions on the possibilities for jumps via the vacancies are drawn.