The dependence of the conduction electron wave function on the lattice symmetry

Abstract

Abstract The X-ray fluorescence intensity of the Fe Kβ5 transition in iron-aluminium alloys has been measured and a marked dependence of the fluorescence intensity on the state of order of the crystal found. A theoretical model for the dependence of the conduction electron wave function on the order parameter of the crystal is proposed. The transition intensities measured experimentally are compared with those calculated from the model. The demonstration of the dependence of the conduction electron wave function on the state of order of the crystal confirms the view of Slater (1951) that in alloys in which there is no change in the immediate environment of the atoms in order-disorder transitions, the transitions are due to a decrease in conduction electron energy.