Redetermination of the scattering length of yttrium

The scattering length of yttrium was redetermined from a neutron powder pattern of Y₂O₃ which was analysed by the profile-analysis technique. The study confirmed the structural parameters of the single-crystal investigation of O'Connor and Valentine and yielded a scattering length of b_Y = 0.765 (σ = 0.007) 10^-12 cm. This value is supported further by the results of a current study of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) by polarized neutrons.