We report preliminary results that illustrate the potential of resonant sca
ttering of polarized soft X-rays applied to the study of the magnetic prope
rties of oxide layers. As a test case, we study iron oxides, a class of mat
erials of high technological interest, especially when prepared in the form
of thin epitaxial layers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv
ed.