Resonant photoelectron diffraction with circularly polarized light

The atomic and magnetic structure of surfaces and interfaces can be determined by angle-scanned resonant x-ray photoelectron diffraction. For the case of magnetized nickel the resonant L2 excitation with circularly polarized light yields electrons with a dichroic signature from which the dipolar part may be retrieved. The dichroic dipoles in the electron emission patterns rotate by distinct angles, which indicates different electron source waves with angular momenta parallel or antiparallel to those of the photons. For precise determination of the magnetization direction, the asymmetry between electron diffraction patterns as excited by left and right circularly polarized light has to be used. ©2011 American Physical Society