Multielectron excitations in 3d transition metal compounds probed by X-raymagnetic circular dichroism

Multielectron excitations (MEE) have been investigated using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the K-edge in 3d transition metal ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic compounds. The MEE dichroic signal is located in the energy r ange 50 to 70 eV above the absorption edge. The intensity is of the order o f 10(-3) of the photoabsorption, comparable to the dichroism observed aroun d the edge. The energy position is dependent on the absorbing magnetic atom s rather than the material structures. The energy difference between the K- edge and the MEE peak varies linearly with the atomic number Z, and is rela ted to the absorption energy of the M-2,M-3-edge of the (Z+1) atom. These f eatures suggest that the 3d-states have a significant contribution to the M EE process. We propose that this MEE phenomenon is due to the super Coster- Kronig transitions described as the final state (1s)(1)(3p)(5)(3d)(n+2), in which two electrons are simultaneously excited to the 3d-orbitals.