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Prediction of huge X-ray Faraday rotation at the Gd N_4,5 threshold

J. E. Prieto·F. Heigl·O. Krupin·G. Kaindl·K. Starke
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Abstract

X-ray absorption spectra in a wide energy range around the 4d-4f excitation threshold of Gd were recorded by total electron yield from in-plane magnetized Gd metal films. Matching the experimental spectra to tabulated absorption data reveals unprecedented short light absorption lengths down to 3 nm. The associated real parts of the refractive index for circularly polarized light propagating parallel or antiparallel to the Gd magnetization, determined through the Kramers-Kronig transformation, correspond to a magneto-optical Faraday rotation of 0.7 degrees per atomic layer. This finding shall allow the study of magnetic structure and magnetization dynamics of lanthanide elements in nanosize systems and dilute alloys.

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J. E. Prieto, F. Heigl, O. Krupin, G. Kaindl, K. Starke. 2002-11-25. Prediction of huge X-ray Faraday rotation at the Gd N_4,5 threshold. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.66.172408

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