Study of magnetic clusters in granular CoxCu1- x

Samples of CoxCu1-x (x = 0.05, 0.02 and 0.01) produced by melt spinning and subsequent annealing were studied by muon spin rotation/relaxation (mu SR) spectroscopy with the aim to gain information on the dependence of the local magnetic properties like the magnitude, the distribution and the temporal behavior of the magnetic field at the muon site as function of Co concentration. In addition, we investigated for Co0.02Cu0.98 the changes in mu SR response as function of annealing times and temperatures. In all alloys, a spin-glass-like magnetic cluster state was seen well below the susceptibility cusp temperature. Above this temperature, cluster spin dynamics sets in but with low fluctuation rates even at high temperatures reflecting the presence of strong cluster - cluster couplings. A free paramagnetic cluster state is not formed. Spin dynamic properties are different for the x = 0(05 and 0.02 compounds and the x = 0(01 alloy. In the former compounds, the coexistence of a slower and a faster fluctuating fraction is found, arising from a non-uniform cluster size distribution or a non-random spatial distribution of clusters. In the latter compound, the spin dynamical state is homogeneous, but shows an unusual mu SR response requiring the presence of simultaneous fluctuations in spin orientation and moment magnitude. It further points to the presence of a partial loss of magnetic clusters. The variation of annealing times and temperatures for Co0.02Cu0.98 influences details of mu SR spectral parameters but leaves the overall response the same.