Structural heterogeneities in the cubic ZnS crystal doped with [Fe.sup.2+] ions

The structural state of the cubic [Zn.sub.0.999][Fe.sub.0.001]S single crystal grown by the chemical transport method has been investigated using thermal neutron diffraction at 300 K for the first time. It has been found that the diffraction patterns of the crystal contain diffuse scattering regions with wave vectors q = 0 and q = ([bar.1]/3, 1/3, 0)2π/a. The experimental results have been discussed in the context of the available information on neutron diffraction in the [Zn.sub.0.999][Fe.sub.0.001] compound. It has been shown that the effects of diffuse scattering are caused by local shear deformations of the metastable cubic lattice of the compound under investigation.