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Measurement and modeling of polarized specular neutron reflectivity in large magnetic fields
Author(s) -
Maranville Brian B.,
Kirby Brian J.,
Grutter Alexander J.,
Kienzle Paul A.,
Majkrzak Charles F.,
Liu Yaohua,
Dennis Cindi L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied crystallography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.429
H-Index - 162
ISSN - 1600-5767
DOI - 10.1107/s1600576716007135
Subject(s) - physics , scattering , magnetization , condensed matter physics , neutron scattering , small angle neutron scattering , specular reflection , magnetic field , spin (aerodynamics) , optics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
The presence of a large applied magnetic field removes the degeneracy of the vacuum energy states for spin‐up and spin‐down neutrons. For polarized neutron reflectometry, this must be included in the reference potential energy of the Schrödinger equation that is used to calculate the expected scattering from a magnetic layered structure. For samples with magnetization that is purely parallel or antiparallel to the applied field which defines the quantization axis, there is no mixing of the spin states (no spin‐flip scattering) and so this additional potential is constant throughout the scattering region. When there is non‐collinear magnetization in the sample, however, there will be significant scattering from one spin state into the other, and the reference potentials will differ between the incoming and outgoing wavefunctions, changing the angle and intensities of the scattering. The theory of the scattering and recommended experimental practices for this type of measurement are presented, as well as an example measurement.