Limitations of a simple quantum mechanical model: Magnetic dichroism in a relativistic one‐electron atom

Abstract

AbstractThe magnetic dichroism, i.e., the difference in the absorption coefficient for right‐ and left‐circularly polarized electromagnetic waves, is a relativistic many‐electron effect in a magnetic material. Jenkins and Strange have introduced the most simple and analytically solvable quantum mechanical model which exhibits magnetic dichroism, i.e., the relativistic one‐electron atom in an external magnetic field. We have extended this model by considering the 2p–3d transitions and by taking into account the effect of an additional crystal field. The model predicts near‐zero dichroism for the 2p1/2–3d3/2 transition (L2‐absorption) if the crystal field and the effect of the magnetic field on the core states are neglected, in contrast to the strong dichroism for the L2‐absorption in real materials. The reason for this limitation of the model of Jenkins and Strange is discussed. The j –j mixing of the initial states by the additional crystal field potential has some weak effect on the dichroism. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)