Electron Structure of d-Transition Metals and their Alloys on the Basis of EELS Study

Analysis of characteristic electron energy losses in reflection from the surface provides information on electron and band structure of the solid state. Study of transition metals, their alloys (Fe-N, Zn-Ni) and amorphous alloys Fe$\text{}_{78}$Si$\text{}_{9}$B$\text{}_{13}$ show that there are two subsets of electron gas characterized by different oscillation frequency. The presence of independent components of volume plasmons corresponding to s and d electrons is an evidence that despite collectivization both the subsets preserve individual features characteristic of the structure of an isolated atom. From the energy losses the following quantities are determined: the effective mass (μ) for particular electron subsets, the Fermi energy (E$\text{}_{F}$), the band widths (δE) for s and d electrons and contribution of the subsets to the metal conductivity (γ). The obtained results for metals are compared to analogous data for alloys both in crystalline and amorphous phase.