XMCD study of electronic states in rare-earth iron garnet

Abstract

In order to clarify the relationship between the electronic states and magnetic properties in rare-earth iron garnet (R-IG), X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectra have been precisely recorded at Fe K-edge and R L 2,3-edges, especially Dy L 2,3-edges in Dy 3Fe 5O 12 (Dy-IG). We have paid attention to the Fe electronic states in a polyhedral environment, the compensation phenomenon in an N-type ferrimagnet, and comparison between the experimental and theoretical spectra. As a result, the identification of the R L 2,3-edges dichroic structures is nearly complete, and Dy(5d)–Fe(3d) mixing appears to play an indispensable role for the ferrimagnetic ordering. The difference in the Dy(5d) states between insulating Dy-IG and metallic DyAl 2 compounds is briefly discussed.