The structure of Mn₂Au and Mn₃Au

X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements have shown that Mn₂Au is a compound with a tetragonal unit-cell of dimensions a = 3.328 and c = 8.539 Å and that it can be assigned to the same space group as MnAu₂, namely I4/mmm (D_4h¹⁷). The neutron diffraction pattern of 74.2 at.% MnAu can be explained only if the ordered structure of this alloy is identical with that of Mn₂Au. Thus the compound Mn₃Au apparently does not exist.