Abstract
A theory of polarized neutron magnetic form factors based on atomic current densities is presented and applied to Ce3+ ion in CeP. The eigenvectors due to crystal field and induced by the applied magnetic fields are derived and utilized to estimate these form factors. The derived form factors of Γ8 eigenstates are closer to experimental ones than those of Γ7. This finding is in accord with previously published results. The magnetic form factors derived from the pure crystal field Γ8, the induced Γ8(1) and Γ8(3) eigenstates of phase I are almost given the same form factors. Similarly, this is also the case of the form factors of phase III. The similarity of the derived form factors in each phase is attributed to the domination of the crystal field splitting over external and internal applied magnetic fields. Due to other sources of magnetic scattering in phase I some deviations of the estimated form factors from the experimental ones persist. The derived form factors of Γ8 eigenstates of phase III are in good agreement with experimental results.
•A theory of polarized neutron magnetic form factors based on atomic current densities is presented and applied to Ce2+ ion in CeP.•The eigenvectors due to crystal field and an induced by the applied magnetic fields are derived.•The magnetic form factors derived from the pure crystal field and induced eigenstate are in good agreement with the experimental ones.