Open AccessElement-specific soft x-ray magneto-optic rotation studies of magnetic films and multilayers
Author(s) -
J. B. Kortright,
M. Rice
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/270797
Subject(s) - polarizer , polarimeter , magneto , polarization (electrochemistry) , materials science , rotation (mathematics) , condensed matter physics , hysteresis , optics , magneto optic kerr effect , core (optical fiber) , kerr effect , optoelectronics , physics , magnetization , magnetic field , chemistry , polarimetry , magnet , geometry , birefringence , mathematics , quantum mechanics , nonlinear system , scattering
Soft x-ray magneto-optic Kerr rotation has been measured using a continuously tunable multilayer linear polarizer in the beam reflected form samples in applied magnetic fields. Like magnetic circular dichroism, Kerr rotation in the soft x-ray can be element - specific and much larger than in the visible spectral range when the photon energy is tuned near atomic core resonances. Thus sensitive element-specific hysteresis measurements are possible with this technique. Examples showing large Kerr rotation from an Fe film and element-specific hysteresis loops of the Fe and Cr in an Fe/Cr multilayer demonstrate these new capabilities. Some consequences of the strong anomalous dispersion near the FeL{sub 2,3} edges to the Kerr rotation are discussed