Role of magnetism in the formation of a short-range order in an Fe-Ga alloy

The formation of a short-range order in an Fe-Ga bcc alloy has been studied by Monte Carlo simulation with the use of effective interaction potentials calculated within the density functional theory for the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states. It has been found that the pronounced short-range order of the D0$_3$ type is formed at Ga concentrations close to the boundary of the two-phase region at $T<T_c$, whereas no short-range order is observed at $T<T_c$. The results obtained are in agreement with the experimental X-ray diffraction analysis. The relation of the features of the short-range order in the Fe–Ga alloy to the magnetostriction value has been discussed.