Study of the electronic structure of SmNiC ₂ by X‐ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism measurements

Abstract

We investigated the electronic structure of SmNiC 2 by using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD). The XAS and MCD measurements were performed around Sm L 2,3 -edges and Ni K-edge. The element selective magnetic hysteresis curves were measured around Sm L 2,3 -edges and Ni K-edge. The XAS spectrum showed a single peak around Sm L 2,3 -edges. The valence of Sm ions in SmNiC 2 is a little smaller than trivalent. The MCD signals were clearly observed around all absorption edges below the Curie temperature. We concluded that Ni atoms in SmNiC 2 have a finite magnetic moment by analyzing the spectrum at Sm L 3 -edge. The shape of ESMH loops were different from the hysteresis loop measured by a SQUID magnetometer.