Magnetic dichroism in valence-band photoemission from Co/Cu(001): Experiment and theory

Ferromagnetic Co films on Cu(001) have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically by photoemission from valence bands with unpolarized 21.2 eV radiation. The measured spectra exhibit sizable magnetic dichroism and are well reproduced by their counterparts calculated by means of a fully relativistic Green's function method. Prominent intensity maxima can be attributed to direct bulk interband transitions. Magnetic dichroism with unpolarized light is explained by the interplay of exchange splitting with a spin-orbit-induced spin-polarization effect for off-normally incident p-polarized light. Experiment and calculations further give evidence that in Co films on Cu(001) prepared at elevated temperatures (400 K), Cu has diffused to the top of the film. {} 1996 The American Physical Society.