Coster-Kronig Contributions to Magnetic Circular-Dichroism in the L(2,3) X-Ray-Fluorescence of Iron
Journal
Physical Review B
Journal Volume
51
Journal Issue
2
Pages
1370-1373
Date Issued
1995
Author(s)
Abstract
High-resolution x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy has been performed on magnetically oriented polycrystalline iron samples. Circularly polarized synchrotron radiation was used to excite the Fe L2,3 x-ray emission, either directly from a bending magnet (white radiation), or from an asymmetric wiggler followed by a monochromator tuned to the L2 edge. Large differences in the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) were observed. Spin-polarized relativistic linear muffin-tin orbital calculations and a simple qualitative model demonstrate that the L3 x-ray emission dichroism is partially canceled by the L2-L3M4,5 Coster-Kronig process. The Coster-Kronig process is large enough to make MCD x-ray absorption experiments, performed in the fluorescence mode, unreliable. © 1995 The American Physical Society.
Type
journal article