Spin‐polarized Low Energy Electron Diffraction

Abstract

AbstractWe review recent progress in the understanding of the physics of ultrathin ferromagnetic films and surfaces that has been made using elastic spin‐polarized low‐energy electron diffraction (SPLEED). Further development of the experimental technique including high efficient electron sources, spin manipulation and imaging allows a wide range of applications. We report on a quantitative comparison of relativistic dynamical scattering calculations with SPLEED experiments on Fe(110) surfaces and Fe(100)/W(100) thin films leading to an understanding of the spatial distribution of spin densities. Exploiting the surface sensitivity in combination with the large asymmetry of SPLEED, it becomes feasible to investigate magnetic order in low‐dimensional systems and nanostructures in the vicinity of the Curie temperature. We analyze possibilities to improve electron polarization detectors using SPLEED at very low energies.