X-ray resonant exchange scattering from 3d transition metal surfaces

Abstract

The decay of the elastic X-ray intensity peak versus perpendicular transferred momentum is theoretically studied at energies close to the LII edge, for single crystal Fe surfaces and thin Fe films. For the single crystal surface, large intensity changes are observed upon reversal of the direction of the magnetisation. For thin Fe films, which are known to exhibit perpendicular magnetisation, analogous effects are predicted when, by raising the temperature, the magnetisation becomes in-plane. These changes are sensitive to both direction and magnitude of the surface magnetic moments, making this technique a powerful probe for studying the magnetic properties of 3d surfaces and interfaces.