Spin resolved photoelectron spectroscopy from paramagnetic Gd at the 4d ->4f resonance using circularly polarized radiation, a cross comparison withMCD

Spin resolved resonant photoemission from paramagnetic Gd(0001)/W(110) was performed in the 4d --> 4f excitation region using circularly polarized rad iation from the new helical undulator UE 56/1 at BESSY II. The general spec tral behaviour of the electron spin polarization, including changes of its sign, revealed in the Gd F-7 photoemission peak coincides with the MCD (mag netic circular dichroism) asymmetry from ferromagnetic Gd. This similarity is substantially due to the spin-orbit interaction, which identically deter mines the (primary) excitation in both processes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.