Observation of the low-temperature martensitic transformation in Li and a Li-Mg alloy by soft X-ray emission

The martensitic transformation that occurs in pure Li metal and in alloys of Li with Mg has been well documented from the results of X-ray diffraction and electrical resistivity measurements. They present soft X-ray emission spectra from both bulk and evaporated samples of pure Li metal and of a Li+10.7 at.% Mg alloy subjected to various cold-working and thermal treatments. They observe effects in the spectra from bulk samples of both pure Li and the alloy which they interpret as resulting from the transition; for samples prepared by evaporation of pure Li onto cooled substrates these effects are not observed.