Past exam of the condensed matter physics course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / 1 / d / Solution

An applied magnetic field changes the alignment of the manganese magnetic moments. The component of their magnetic structure factor perpendicular to the scattering vector contributes to magnetic neutron diffraction. A field-induced uniform magnetization has the same translational periodicity as the nuclear crystal structure, so its scattering amplitude can occur at the existing reciprocal lattice vectors. The diffraction wave intensities can therefore change without moving the peaks. Their angular positions still measure the same interplanar spacings. This mechanism does not require a measurable change of the lattice constant.