''Critical'' neutron scattering in amorphous HoFe2 and GdFe2

Small-angle neutron scattering measurements were made on amorphous HoFe2 and GdFe2. For HoFe2, the intensity for T greater than or equal to T/sub c/ (1950K) is Lorentzian in form and can be analyzed for an inverse correlation length kappa1 which remains finite at T/sub c/. Below T/sub c/, a giant anomalous magnetic component appears, which follows a q-2.4 dependence and can be analyzed in terms of magnetic inhomogeneities of dimension comparable to kappa-11 at T/sub c/. Limited measurements at fixed q indicate the absence of this component in GdFe2, suggesting an origin based on local crystalline field effects. (auth)