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Magneto-optical properties of spin-polarized palladium

1991; Elsevier BV; Volume: 93; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0304-8853(91)90333-6

1873-4766

W. Reim, H. Brändle, D. Weller, J. Schoenes,

Quantum and electron transport phenomena

Thin films of PdxFe1-x(0≤x≤0.94) were characterized by magnetization, transport and Kerr-loop measurements, X-ray diffraction and Auger depth profiling. X-ray photoemission and optical and magneto-optical spectroscopy were used to study the spin-polarized band structure. We find that spin-polarized Pd is characterized by an off-diagonal conductivity tensor element σ-xy of the same order of magnitude as Fe or Co in spite of the low magnetic moment of only 0.35μB/Pd. The energy dependence of the 4d contribution to σ~xy is completely different compared to the 3d contribution known from Fe and Co. In the 0.6–5eV energy range, we find one prominent structure with a diamagnetic line shape, i.e. a peak in σ1xy centered around 1.9eV and a corresponding double structure in σ2xy. Both this shape of σ~xy and the resonance energy of about 1.9eV may be interpreted in terms of a simple Stoner picture. For 'in depth' understanding, 3d–4d hybridization effects have to be considered. The conduction electron contribution to σ~xy shows as a function of Pd content a change in sign around x = 0.8 with opposite sign compared to Fe for x > 0.8. The amplitude, however, is negligible.