Imaging short-range magnetic order by spin-polarized photoelectron holography.

Abstract

We extend spin-polarized photoelectron diffraction to the direct imaging of magnetic spin configurations by using holographic-inversion methods. Theoretical calculations for ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ and ${\mathrm{O}}^{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ions in linear chains show that it is possible via two different spin-selective image functions to determine both the positions and orientations of magnetic scatterers relative to a given type of emitter. Such holographic images thus should provide direct information on short-range magnetic spin configurations near surfaces.