Observation of the X-Ray Magneto-Optical Voigt Effect

Abstract

The existence of the x-ray magneto-optical Voigt effect is demonstrated. By means of polarization analysis the Voigt rotation and ellipticity of linearly polarized synchrotron radiation are measured at the Co L3 edge upon transmission through an amorphous Co film. The observed x-ray Voigt rotation is about 7.5 degrees /microm. On the basis of ab initio calculations it is shown that the x-ray Voigt effect follows sensitively the amount of spin polarization of the 2p core states. Therefore it provides a unique measure of the spin splitting of the core states.

Systematic study of magnetic linear dichroism and birefringence in (Ga,Mn)As

“…For example, in compensated antiferromagnets, the magneto-optical effects even in M can still be detected [11] because contributions from the two spin sublattices with opposite spin orientations do not cancel. As a probe into the antiferromagnetic order [12], magneto-optical effects in the visible and infrared range, such as the one described in this paper, do not require large-scale facilities as the measurements of neutron diffraction [13] or x-ray Voigt effect [14] do.…”

Prediction of huge x-ray Faraday rotation at the GdN4,5threshold

“…The experimental demonstration of large changes in the specularly reflected X-ray intensity at the Fe L 2,3 edge 5 upon magnetization reversal initiated the ongoing search for magneto-optical (MO) effects in the soft X-ray regime, 6,7,8,9,10,11,12 as well as their application to element-specific studies of heteromagnetic systems. 13,14,15,16,17,18 Yet, in analyzing soft X-ray MO signals from thin films and multilayer systems with thicknesses comparable to the X-ray wavelength, previous investigations have shown 5,13,18 that a comparison with model calculations 19 of the reflected specular intensity (based on the Fresnel equations) is needed in order to extract a layerresolved sample magnetization profile.…”

Resonant soft x-ray techniques to resolve nanoscale magnetism

“…Effects of induced moments at nominally non-magnetic sites due to magnetic neighbors have been calculated [49], as have field-induced magneto-optical effects in paramagnetic solids [50]. The importance of spin polarization and spin splitting in 2p core states has been established through comparisons of measurements with theory [51,52]. XAS and XMCD spectra of Fe 3 O 4 and related structures have been calculated and found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements [53].…”