Inelastic magnetic scattering from amorphous TbFe2

Inelastic neutron scattering measurements were made on sputter-deposited amorphous Tb/sub Q33/Fe/sub Q67/ using time-of-flight spectrometers. At 4330K (above T/sub c/), the magnetic scattering function S(Q,ω) exhibited an approximate Gaussian dependence on energy transfer characteristic of a paramagnet. Below T/sub c/, at 2990K, a broad distribution of magnetic inelastic scattering is present centered approximately at ΔE = 11 MeV. As expected this distribution was significantly broadened and was shifted to a lower energy than the equivalent polycrystalline compound TbFe2 which showed a single inelastic peak near 18 MeV. Polarized beam time-of-flight data showed evidence for discrete spin wave excitations for Q less than or equal to 1.0 A-1 in the amorphous sample. (auth)