Multiple Scattering Theory of Spin-Polarized X-ray Photoelectron Diffraction

Abstract

Spin-polarized X-ray photoelectron diffraction (SPXPD) spectra are useful to study magnetic structures of solid surfaces. In this work two different SPXPD modes are studied on the basis of a relativistic quantum electrodynamic (QED) theory which provides a unified picture of the SPXPD analyses. An important advantage of this theory is to allow us to handle many-body relativistic XPS theory, which can be a basis of SPXPD analyses. One mode is to utilize the spin polarization caused by multiplet splittings as observed in O2 molecules and Gd metals. We demonstrate how to extract local magnetic order in surface O2 . The second SPXPD mode is to use circularly polarized X-rays to discriminate the spin polarization with aid of spin-orbit coupling. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2005.353]