Determination of the hyperfine parameters of α-FeSi2 by angle dependent Moessbauer spectroscopy on single crystals

The hyperfine parameters of the metallic disilicide phase α-FeSi2 at room temperature are determined with high accuracy by conversion electron Moessbauer spectroscopy measurements on a single crystal. It is found that there are two well defined iron environments with different electron densities (isomer shifts 0.202 and 0.257 mm s-1, respectively) and different electric field gradients. Both quadrupole splittings are negative (-0.382 and -0.730 mm s-1, respectively) and the site occupation for both sites is different. (author). Letter-to-the-editor