Magnetic dichroism in the 4f photoelectron spectra of free Eu atoms: Experimental proof of the atomic character of thin film Eu-Gd MCD

The 4f photoionization of Eu atoms oriented in the ground state was investi gated by means of photoelectron spectroscopy with linearly polarized vacuum ultraviolet radiation. Strong magnetic dichroism could be observed for ato ms oriented parallel/antiparallel to the VUV photon beam by optical pumping with circularly polarized laser radiation. The magnetic dichroism of the f oe atoms, well described within the general theory of photoelectron angular distribution, displays the same characteristic features as the CMD of thin Eu films on a ferromagnetic Gd substrate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.