Diffuse magnetic scattering of polarised neutrons

Neutron polarisation studies of the diffuse scattering from disordered magnetic alloys and compounds have provided unique and detailed insights into the nature and extent of magnetic inhomogeneities and their dependence upon local atomic environments. In this paper, we briefly review the application of polarised neutron methods in the characterisation of magnetic and structural defects in ferromagnets, antiferromagnets, spin glasses and topologically frustrated systems and present some new polarisation analysis measurements of the spin correlations in beta-MnAl. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.