Spin-resolved off-specular neutron scattering maps from magnetic multilayers using a polarized He-3 gas spin filter

We report on the application of the polarized He-3 gas spin filter techniqu e for the measurement of spin-polarized diffuse neutron reflectivity with s pin analysis. The spin filter together with a one-dimensional position-sens itive detector enables the simultaneous investigation of sections in recipr ocal space while exploiting spin sensitivity. An example of diffuse neutron scattering from a Fe/Cr superlattice demonstrates the potential of the met hod. In addition we present a first step towards the interpretation of diff use scattering from magnetic multilayers by exploiting the supermatrix form alism. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.