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Free keywords:
Dichroism; Magnetic moments; Magnetite; Mapping; Textures; X ray spectroscopy, Antiferro-magnetically coupled; Mixed valence systems; Polarization dependence; Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering; Spin excitation; Spin flip; Spin state; Technological applications, X ray scattering
Abstract:
The determination of the local orientation and magnitude of the magnetization in spin textures plays a pivotal role in understanding and harnessing magnetic properties for technological applications. Here, we show that by employing the polarization dependence of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), we can directly probe the spin ordering with chemical and site selectivity. Applied on the prototypical ferrimagnetic mixed-valence system, magnetite ([Fe3+]_A[Fe3+,Fe2+]BO4), we can distinguish spin-flip excitations at the A and B antiferromagnetically coupled Fe3+ sublattices and quantify the exchange field. Furthermore, it is possible to determine the orbital contribution to the magnetic moment from detailed angular dependence measurements. RIXS dichroism measurements performed at spin-flip excitations with nanometer spatial resolution will offer a powerful mapping contrast suitable for the characterization of magnetic ordering at interfaces and engineered spin textures. Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society.
