Half-metallic ferromagnetism with high magnetic moment and high Curie temperature in Co$_2$FeSi

Co$_2$FeSi crystallizes in the ordered L2$_1$ structure as proved by X-ray diffraction and M\"o\ss bauer spectroscopy. The magnetic moment of Co$_2$FeSi was measured to be about $6\mu_B$ at 5K. Magnetic circular dichroism spectra excited by soft X-rays (XMCD) were taken to determine the element specific magnetic moments of Co and Fe. The Curie temperature was measured with different methods to be ($1100\pm20$)K. Co$_2$FeSi was found to be the Heusler compound as well as the half-metallic ferromagnet with the highest magnetic moment and Curie temperature.

Multiphoton photoemission electron microscopy using femtosecond laser radiation

Abstract The interaction of intense, pulsed laser radiation with surfaces results in non-linear optical effects that are responsible for emission of electrons even if the photon energies are below the work function. In the present study, photoelectrons have been excited by means of femtosecond laser pulses from a frequency doubled Ti:sapphire laser with a photon energy of 3.1 eV. The spatial distribution of the photo emitted electrons was imaged using a photoemission electron microscope. All samples exhibit centres of enhanced second or higher order photoemission yield, so called ‘hot spots’. These ‘hot spots’ were preferentially excited with s-polarised light. This behaviour may be explain…

Spin and Orbital Magnetic Moments of FePt Thin Films

The magnetic moments of disordered and ordered L10 Fe50Pt50 films were investigated using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and spin polarized full relativistic Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker (SPRKKR) calculations. The measurements showed that the spin magnetic moments of Fe in both ordered and disordered films were similar with a lower value than that obtained by SPRKKR calculations. Both films however showed larger orbital moments of Fe compared to the calculations. It is suggested that the spin magnetic moment of Fe in FePt thin films was insensitive to L10 ordering.

Investigation of Elemental Magnetic Moments of CoCrPt Films Using X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism

The elemental magnetic moments of Co and Cr in CoCrPt films were investigated using xray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The spin and orbital moments of Co was calculated using the sum rules; it was found that the magnetic moment of Co in CoCrPt films was dominated by spin moment contribution. The total magnetic moment of Co was found to be lower than that of bulk Co. Further, the Cr moment was aligned anti-ferromagnetically with respect to Co, resulting in a decrease of saturation magnetization (Ms) in CoCrPt films.

Charakterisierung von dotierten Heusler-Verbindungen: Co2Cr1−xFexAl

Photoabsorption and MXCD in Photoemission Microscopy for Characterization of Advanced Materials

We used imaging spectromicroscopy to characterise micro-patterned thin films of magnetic materials like FeNi alloys on Silicon. To investigate devices built from complex materials we applied element-sensitive photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM). Information about the chemical composition of the imaged sample can be obtained by PEEM via tuning the photon energy to X-ray absorption edges. One aim of our work was to observe oxygen related defects and changes in the composition effecting the physical properties of the materials. The use of circularly polarised photons allows us to image magnetic domains by making use of the magnetic circular dichroism (MXCD).

Photoabsorption and MXCD in photoemission microscopy for characterisation of advanced materials

Abstract We applied chemical and magnetic sensitive photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) to investigate surfaces of advanced materials. PEEM at low photon energies provides a high spatial resolution, but suffers from the lack of information about the chemical composition of the imaged surface. Such information can be obtained by PEEM via tuning the photon energy to X-ray absorption edges. To apply spectromicroscopy we acquired and subtracted microscopic images using photon energies just below and at the edges. The resulting difference gives a micro-image of the lateral distribution of a specific element. Microspectroscopy is performed by recording the intensity of secondary electrons in…

Structural and magnetic properties of Fe2CoGa Heusler nanoparticles

Abstract Fe2CoGa Heusler nanoparticles are synthesized by a chemical method. The structure and magnetic properties of Fe2CoGa Heusler nanoparticles are investigated by x-ray diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The crystal structure of Fe2CoGa nanoparticles is described by the X-type structure (prototype: Li2AgSb). Magnetic measurements reveal the presence of small Fe2CoGa nanoparticles and lower magnetic moments compared with the theoretically predicted values.

Characterisation of structured thin films made from complex materials by photoabsorption spectromicroscopy

Al3 and YBa2Cu3O7/PrBa2Cu3O7. To investigate devices built from these complex materials we applied element-sensitive photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM). Information about the chemical composition of the imaged sample can be obtained by PEEM via tuning the photon energy to X-ray absorption edges. To apply spectromicroscopy we acquired microscopic images using photon energies near and at the edges. Such images give the lateral distribution of a specific element. Microspectroscopy is performed by recording the intensity of the true secondary electrons in selected spots during a sweep of the photon energy. The main aim of our work was to observe oxygen-related defects and changes in the c…

The spatial distribution of non-linear effects in multi-photon photoemission from metallic adsorbates on Si(1 1 1)

Multi-photon excitations from thin metallic films on silicon substrates have been observed utilising photoemission electron microscopy. The photoelectrons have been excited by means of high power femtosecond laser pulses with a photon energy below the work function threshold. The strong spatial variations of the non-linear effects became directly visible in electron emission from the adsorbed thin films. Centres of enhanced photoelectron yield, so-called hot spots, were observed on the surfaces of various samples. The multi-photon electron yield of the metallic films (permalloy and lead) depends strongly on the sample topography and the photon polarisation.

Probing the Size Effect of Co2FeGa-SiO2@C Nanocomposite Particles Prepared by a Chemical Approach

In this contribution, we report the chemical synthesis of carbon coated, silica supported Co2FeGa (Co2FeGa-SiO2@C) nanocomposite particles. The particle size of Co2FeGa particles can be tuned by varying the amount of silica supports. The dependences of the crystal structure and magnetic properties on particle size have been investigated by synchrotron radiation based X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM), 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The superparamagnetic critical size of Co2FeGa Heusler nanoparticles is found to be ∼17 nm by correlating the TEM derived par…

Field dependence of spin and orbital moments of Fe in L10 FePt magnetic thin films

Abstract The field dependence of spin and orbital magnetic moments of Fe in L10 FePt magnetic thin films was investigated using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The spin and orbital moments were calculated using the sum rules; it was found that the spin and orbital moment of Fe in L10 FePt films are ∼2.5 and 0.2 μB, respectively. The relative XMCD asymmetry at Fe L3 peak on the dependence of applied field suggested that the majority magnetic moment of L10 FePt films resulted from Fe.

Chemical microimaging and microspectroscopy of surfaces with a photoemission microscope

We applied element sensitive photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) to investigate surfaces of devices built from complex materials. Conventional PEEM suffers from lack of information about the chemical composition of the imaged surface. Such information can be obtained by PEEM via tuning the photon energy to X-ray absorption edges. To apply spectromicroscopy we acquired and subtracted microscopic images using photon energies just below and at the edges. The resulting difference gives a micro-image of the lateral distribution of a specific element. Microspectroscopy is performed by recording the intensity of secondary electrons in selected spots during a sweep of the photon energy. We app…