This article gives an overview of the use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterize the magnetic properties for technologically important, low dimensional magnetic materials. An overview is given both for the experimental hardware, the measurements and the analysis of the spectra. The information obtained is discussed for metallic and semiconducting systems, using both the X-ray magnetic...

A magnetization vector M imaging using a transmission x-ray microscope with magnetic circular dichroism ~MCD! contrast is demonstrated. MCD images through a semitransparent, 33-nm-thick Fe film are measured at the Fe L3 edge along three different x-ray propagation directions to determine all three components of the M. The transmission images clearly display the vector nature of complex microstr...

We present an x-ray magnetic circular dichroism XMCD study performed at the R L2 edge in RAl2 and RT2 T=Fe,Co intermetallic compounds. By analyzing the modification of the XMCD spectra as both the rare earth and the alloyed element Al, Fe, or Co are changed in the compound, an extra contribution, XMCDT, has been identified and undoubtedly associated with the R 5d -T 3d hybridization in Fe and C...

Detailed X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements as a function of temperature are reported in ErCo2 at the Co L2,3 edges. The application of magneto-optical sum rules allows for the determination of the Co orbital and spin magnetic moments both in the ferrimagnetic and paramagnetic phases. In agreement with the predictions of Hund’s third rule, Co orbital and spin moments are parallel th...

Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy and magnetic transmission soft x-ray microscopy (MTXM) experiments have been performed to gain insight into the magnetic anisotropy and domain structure of ultrathin Co9Ni multilayer films with a thin permalloy layer underneath. MTXM images with a spatial resolution better than 25 nm were obtained ...

We describe how first principle calculations can play a key role in the interpretation of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectra for a better understanding of emergent phenomena in condensed matter physics at high applied pressure. Eu compounds are used as case study to illustrate the advantages of this methodology, ranging from studies...

The spin dynamics of ferromagnetic thin films following an excitation by ultrashort 100-fs near-infrared laser pulses has recently received much attention. Here, a new approach is described using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism to investigate demagnetization and magnetization switching processes. In contrast to magneto-optical measurements, x-ray dichroism has the advantage of determining sep...

For the non-magnetic system of Ag films on Ru(0001), we have measured the circular dichroism of photoelectrons emitted along the surface normal, the geometry typically used in photoemission electron microscopy. Photoemission spectra were acquired from micrometer-sized regions having uniformly thick Ag films on a single, atomically flat Ru terrace. For a single Ag layer, we find a circular dichr...

The thermal denaturation of ribonuclease A and of S-protein in neutral aqueous solutions has been studied by means of their circular dichroism spectra. For RNase A, the positive circular dichroism extremum near 241 rnp shows a biphasic dependence upon temperature, a linear change between 15” and 50” being followed by a sharp one above 52”. The negative circular dichroism extremum at 277 rnp exh...