Spin polarized Auger electron spectroscopy of Fe and Ni

Abstract

Surface sensitive experiments, in which the spin-polarized electrons are involved, play an important role for magnetic characterization, since the spin-polarized electrons are fingerprints for the local magnetization. Scanning electron microscope with polarization analysis (SEMPA) is one of the most powerful tools to investigate the surface magnetic domain structure of magnetic materials. On the other hand, at energies high enough to generate a two-hole final state arising from Auger transitions, it is possible to observe the spin polarization of the Auger electrons. These electrons reveal element-specific local magnetic information, particularly valuable for surface magnetic studies with composite systems. By using the uniqueness of the UTA-SEMPA tool, one can obtain the magnetic domain picture and also perform spin-polarized Auger electron spectroscopy studies by probing a single domain at the surface. In this study, precisely knowing the probed domain, spin polarization of electrons from super Coster–Kronig MMM Auger emissions on Fe and Ni samples have been investigated. The polarization enhancement above the 3p(M23) threshold is observed on both samples.