Positron annihilation study of the influence of doping on the 3d electron states in the Ni3Al intermetallic compound

The 3d electron states in Ni3Al single crystals doped with Fe, Co, and Nb have been investigated using angular correlation of annihilation radiation (ACAR). The ACAR spectra contain information on the momentum distribution of valence electrons and strongly bound 3d electrons of the intermetallic compound. It has been established that the positrons in the Ni3Al crystals predominantly annihilate in the nickel sublattice from delocalized states. The doping of the compound by the third element leads to a variation in the momentum distribution of Ni 3d electrons due to the change in the character of interatomic bonds. An analysis of the momentum distribution has demonstrated that the niobium atoms increase the covalent component of the chemical bond as compared to the binary compound due to the d Nb-d Ni hybridization. The doping with cobalt atoms also enhances the tendency toward the formation of the covalent bond. At the same time, iron atoms have a weak effect on the electronic structure of the intermetallic compound.