Field-induced electron transfer in magnetostrictive material Fe81Ga19

Abstract The effect of magnetic fields on the local structure of the Fe81Ga19 alloy was investigated by X-ray absorption fine spectroscopy (XAFS) technique. The results demonstrate that 0.6 T magnetic fields lead to the increasing of the 3d, 4s and 4p electrons of Fe atoms, but the decreasing of the 4p electrons of Ga atoms. The electron transfer from Ga to Fe with applying magnetic fields is revealed. The magnetic fields increase the Fe–Ga bond length. The role of the Fe–Ga bond in determining the magnetostriction is revealed.