Spin Wave Signature in the Spin Polarized Electron Energy Loss Spectrum of Ultrathin Fe Films: Theory and Experiment

M. Plihal; D. L. Mills; J. Kirschner

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.2579

Spin Wave Signature in the Spin Polarized Electron Energy Loss Spectrum of Ultrathin Fe Films: Theory and Experiment

M. Plihal, D. L. Mills, and J. Kirschner

Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 2579 – Published 22 March 1999

Abstract

We present theoretical studies based on the use of realistic electronic structures, which conclude that in the spin polarized electron energy loss spectrum of Fe and of ultrathin Fe films a strong signature of spin waves should appear for energy losses in the range of 250 meV and below. New experimental data we present show that indeed the spin asymmetry in the loss spectrum increases dramatically in this regime, as expected from its presence.

Received 27 October 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.2579

Authors & Affiliations

M. Plihal¹, D. L. Mills², and J. Kirschner³

¹Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8019
²Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
³Max Planck Institut für Mikrostruktur Physik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany