X-ray magneto-optics in lanthanides

Magneto-optical methods in the visible light regime generally lack element specificity, which has become a considerable shortcoming in research on adv anced heteromagnetic systems. Using circularly polarized soft x rays tuned to a 4d-4f core-level transition of a lanthanide element, the specularly re flected x-ray intensity changes proportionally to the magnetization of this element and, e.g., hystereses are easily measured element specifically. In contrast to the case of visible light, temperature dependent 4d-4f magneto -optical signals are not influenced by the thermal lattice expansion.