Hard x-ray emission spectroscopy: a powerful tool for the characterization of magnetic semiconductors

Abstract

This review aims to introduce the x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) techniques to the materials scientist working with magnetic semiconductors (e.g. semiconductors doped with 3d transition metals) for applications in the field of spin-electronics. We focus our attention on the hard part of the x-ray spectrum (above 3 keV) in order to demonstrate a powerful element- and orbital-selective characterization tool in the study of bulk electronic structure. XES and RIXS are photon-in/photon-out second order optical processes described by the Kramers-Heisenberg formula. Nowadays, the availability of third generation synchrotron radiation sources permits applying such techniques also to dilute materials, opening the way for a detailed atomic characterization of impurity-driven materials. We present the Kβ XES as a tool to study the occupied valence states (directly, via valence-to-core transitions) and to probe the local spin angular momentum (indirectly, via intra-atomic exchange interaction). The spin sensitivity is employed, in turn, to study the spin-polarized unoccupied states. Finally, the combination of RIXS with magnetic circular dichroism (RIXS-MCD) extends the possibilities of standard magnetic characterization tools.

Topical review (17 pages, 13 figures, 188 references). This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Semiconductor Science and Technology. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it

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• TEXS: in-vacuum tender X-ray emission spectrometer with 11 Johansson crystal analyzers
• X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy study of Mn and Co valence and spin states in TbMn${}_{1-\mathrm{x}}$Co${}_{\mathrm{x}}$O${}_3$
• Evidences of Mott physics in iron pnictides from x-ray spectroscopy
• Study of the thermochromic phase transition in CuMo${}_{1-x}$W${}_x$O${}_4$ solid solutions at the W L${}_3$-edge by resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy
• Determination of oxygen vacancy limit in Mn substituted YSZ ceramics
• Advances in honeycomb layered oxides: Part I -- Syntheses and Characterisations of Pnictogen- and Chalcogen-Based Honeycomb Layered Oxides
• Spin Quenching Assisted by a Strongly Anisotropic Compression Behavior in MnP
• Pressure-induced suppression of ferromagnetism in the itinerant ferromagnet LaCrSb${}_3$
• Incorporation of Mn in Al${}_x$Ga${}_{1-x}$N probed by x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy, high-resolution microscopy, x-ray diffraction and first-principles calculations