Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of buried Heusler compounds
This work reports on high energy photoelectron spectroscopy from the valence band of buried Heusler thin films (Co2MnSi and Co2FeAl0.5Si0.5) excited by photons of about 6?keV energy. The measurements were performed on thin films covered by MgO and SiOx with different thicknesses from 1 to 20?nm of the insulating layer and additional AlOx or Ru protective layers. It is shown that the insulating layer does not affect the high energy spectra of the Heusler compound close to the Fermi energy. The high resolution measurements of the valence band close to the Fermi energy indicate a very large electron mean free path of the electrons through the insulating layer. The spectra of the buried thin fi…
Effect of annealing on Co2FeAl0.5Si0.5thin films: A magneto-optical and x-ray absorption study
A series of Al and MgO-capped Co${}_{2}$FeAl${}_{0.5}$Si${}_{0.5}$ epitaxial thin films grown on MgO with various levels of L2${}_{1}$ ordering was obtained by in situ annealing. The films were studied by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry, and Brillouin light scattering. We find the anisotropy constants decrease, while the spin wave stiffness increases as the samples are annealed to higher temperatures. The magnetization as determined by Brillouin light scattering reveals a maximum value at intermediate annealing temperatures. Surprisingly, the orbital-to-spin-moment ratio (as seen from XMCD) is essenti…
Temperature dependence of x-ray absorption spectra in the ferromagnetic Heusler alloysMn2VAlandCo2FeAl
We investigate the temperature dependence of the spin-resolved unoccupied density of states (DOS) in ferromagnetic ${\text{Co}}_{2}\text{FeAl}$ and ferrimagnetic ${\text{Mn}}_{2}\text{VAl}$ epitaxial films on MgO(100) using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. We observe an unexpected strong temperature dependence of the DOS beyond the change expected from the Fermi distribution function. An increase in spectral weight is observed for majority states below the Fermi energy in the case of ${\text{Mn}}_{2}\text{VAl}$ and for minority states above the Fermi energy in the case of ${\text{Co}}_{2}\text{FeAl}$. Reduced atomic order near the interface suppresses the unexpected temperature dependence…
Spin Polarimetry and Magnetic Dichroism on a Buried Magnetic Layer Using Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
The spin-resolved electronic structure of buried magnetic layers is studied by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) using a spin polarimeter in combination with a high-energy hemispherical electron analyzer at the high-brilliance BL47XU beamline (SPring-8, Japan). Spin-resolved photoelectron spectra are analyzed in comparison with the results of magnetic linear and circular dichroism in photoelectron emission in the case of buried Co2FeAl0.5Si0.5 layers. The relatively large inelastic mean free path (up to 20 nm) of fast photoelectrons enables us to extend the HAXPES technique with electron-spin polarimetry and to develop spin analysis techniques for buried magnetic multilayers a…
Magnetic dichroism in angular-resolved hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy from buried layers
This work reports the measurement of magnetic dichroism in angular-resolved photoemission from in-plane magnetized buried thin films. The high bulk sensitivity of hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) in combination with circularly polarized radiation enables the investigation of the magnetic properties of buried layers. HAXPES experiments with an excitation energy of 8 keV were performed on exchange-biased magnetic layers covered by thin oxide films. Two types of structures were investigated with the IrMn exchange-biasing layer either above or below the ferromagnetic layer: one with a CoFe layer on top and another with a Co$_2$FeAl layer buried beneath the IrMn layer. A pronounced…
Magnetic dichroism in angle-resolved hard x-ray photoemission from buried layers
This work reports the measurement of magnetic dichroism in angular-resolved photoemission from in-plane magnetized buried thin films. The high bulk sensitivity of hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) in combination with circularly polarized radiation enables the investigation of the magnetic properties of buried layers. HAXPES experiments with an excitation energy of 8 keV were performed on exchange-biased magnetic layers covered by thin oxide films. Two types of structures were investigated with the IrMn exchange-biasing layer either above or below the ferromagnetic layer: one with a CoFe layer on top and another with a Co${}_{2}$FeAl layer buried beneath the IrMn layer. A pronou…