Anisotropy in the inelastic neutron scattering from fcc NiH

A sample of nearly stoichiometric fcc nickel hydride in the form of polycrystalline plates with strong texture was studied by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) in two different orientations, with the [100] axis of the texture parallel and at an angle of 45° to the direction of neutron momentum transfer. The INS spectra were measured at 5 K with energy transfers ω ranging from 26 to 380 meV. In the region of the second and third band of optical hydrogen vibrations, they showed a significant directional dependence. A similar anisotropy was recently observed in the INS spectrum of fee palladium hydride, and the now available data for NiH and PdH are discussed together.