X-ray magnetic circular dichroism: Historical perspective and recent highlights

Abstract

This chapter starts with a brief historical overview which shows how x-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) has evolved from the very early days of xray physics to become a powerful spectroscopic technique with the derivation of the x-ray magneto-optical sum rules. We analyze the physical content of XMCD and its sum rules. It is the unique capability of XMCD to probe with elemental selectivity the magnetic properties of an electronic state of given symmetry which makes this method an outstanding tool to study magnetism. We decided to highlight two recent advances in XMCD: the first one deals with measurements of tiny magnetic moments induced either by a magnetic field in a Pauli paramagnet (Pd metal) or by hybridization with a transition metal; the second example concerns induced magnetism in ferromagnetic 3d/5d multilayers. © 2006 Springer.