X-Ray Magnetic Dichroism of Antiferromagnet Fe2O3: The Orientation of Magnetic Moments Observed by Fe 2p X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

We report strong magnetic linear dichroism at the Fe L2,3 edge of the antiferromagnet Fe2O3 (hematite), The relative difference in absorption for light polarized parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic moment is as high as 40% at the Fe L2 edge. The spectra are in excellent agreement with calculations of magnetic dichroism for Fe3+ (3d5). The magnetic origin of this dichroism is demonstrated by the Morin transition at ≈ –10°C, where the moments in Fe2O3 rotate by 90°. Magnetic linear dichroism may be applied to measure the spin orientation in thin films and multilayers, and to image magnetic domains.