Magnetic circular dichroism in core-level photoemission from Gd, Tb, and Dy in ferromagnetic materials

Core-level photoemission (PE) spectra from magnetically ordered lanthanide materials display strong magnetic circular dichroism (MCD). Particularly large MCD effects were observed in 4f PE from Gd, Tb, and Dy, with the intensities of resolved 4f PE lines changing up to 62%. Substantial MCD effects were also found in 4d core-level PE. The perspectives of applying MCD in 4f PE as an element-specific tool for studies of surface and interface magnetism and as a sensor for the degree of circular polarization of soft x rays are discussed.