L3M2,3M2,3Auger transition is measured near the L3resonance of ferromagnetic Fe films on W(110). The kinetic energies of the Auger peaks display the typical Raman behaviour for photon energies well below the absorption threshold, where the Auger energy follows the changes in the photon energy. Classical Auger behaviour with constant kinetic energy sets in at about 1.5 eV below the L3resonance independently from the number of Fe layers down to the monolayer thickness. Strong x-ray circular magnetic dichroism is observed at the L3edge in the entire L3M2,3M2,3Auger spectrum. Different Auger features originating from the final state with two 3p core holes show slight variations in the dichroic signal, which is attributed to the exchange interaction between the core holes and the valence band. Finally, XMCD-PEEM magnetic domain imaging using Auger electrons is demonstrated with a high level of contrast and lateral resolution approaching that of imaging with secondary photoelectrons.
Keywords: XMCD; photoemission electron microscopy, XPEEM; resonant Auger spectroscopy; ultrathin film.
Creative Commons Attribution license.