Radiation effects in amorphous metallic alloys. Progress report, February 1, 1980-January 31, 1981

During the first year changes in the Curie temperature and saturation magnetization of the first series above (with 20 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 34) induced by proton bombardment have been studied, and correlated with small angle x-ray scattering measurements performed for x = 20 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Both the Curie temperature and the low temperature saturation magnetization increase with proton fluence up to 1016 cm-2 but are constant for higher fluences. By varying the proton energy it is concluded that hydrogen implantation is eliminated as the principal source of the observed changes. Proton bombardment at the same fluences produces scattering centers that are observed by small angle x-ray scattering. The size of the scattering centers is in the range of 16 to 30 A. Electron irradiation (1.25 MeV) produces an increase in Curie temperature similar to that following proton bombardment