SANS measurements with polarised neutrons on FeAg magnetic granular samples: compositional and magnetic morphology

Abstract We have performed small angle neutron scattering measurements with polarised and non-polarised neutrons on FeAg magnetic systems prepared by plasma sputtering deposition with the co-sputtering method. We have prepared various samples with an iron content ranging from 10% to 30% and for iron concentration up to 20% they display a superparamagnetic behaviour. Particular attention has been dedicated to these systems, in order to investigate the evolution of granular phase morphology with iron content. The data collected with polarised neutrons can be interpreted in terms of the presence of nanosized particles surrounded by non-magnetic regions. Our data also indicate that samples “magnetic” morphology is greatly affected by iron percentage while the compositional shows negligible modifications.