Spin dependent mean-free path of low-energy electrons in ferromagnetic materials

Spin resolved attenuation measurements of electrons transmitted through overlayers of Fe and Co show that the electron inelastic mean free path (IMFP) in these materials is spin-dependent at low energies. The spin-up IMFP is larger than the spin-down IMFP. The values from different studies are in reasonable agreement. The data suggest that the origin of the spin dependence is mainly due to inelastic processes. Effects from spin dependent elastic scattering have not been identified directly in these experiments. The spin filter effect based on preferential attenuation of spin-down electrons can be used as a basis of spin polarization detectors.     

Quasiparticle dynamics in ferromagnetic compounds of the Co–Fe and Ni–Fe systems

We report a theoretical study of the quasiparticle lifetime and the quasiparticle mean free path caused by inelastic electron-electron scattering in ferromagnetic compounds of the Co–Fe and Ni–Fe systems. The study is based on spin-polarized calculations, which are performed within the G ⁰ W ⁰ approximation for equiatomic and Co(Ni)-rich compounds, as well as for their constituents. We mainly focus on the spin asymmetry of the quasiparticle properties, which leads to the spin-filtering effect experimentally observed in spin-dependent transport of hot electrons and holes in the systems under study. By comparing with available experimental data on the attenuation length, we estimate the contribution of the inelastic mean free path to this length.     

Spin filtering of hot holes in a metallic ferromagnet

Spin-dependent transport of nonequilibrium holes in ferromagnetic thin films and trilayers is investigated using ballistic hole magnetic microscopy. For Co, the hole attenuation length is short and increases from 6 to 10 A in the energy range 0.8 to 2 eV. The hole transmission of a Ni(81)Fe(19)/Au/Co trilayer is clearly spin dependent, resulting in a surprisingly large current change by a factor of 2.3 in a magnetic field. The energy and spin dependence of the hole transmission cannot be explained by the phase space available for inelastic decay of the hot holes.     

The temperature dependence of the perpendicular giant magnetoresistance in Co/Cu multilayered nanowires

A theory, based on earlier work by Valet and Fert, is first presented to describe the influence of temperature on the perpendicular giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in multilayers. Then we present GMR measurements performed at T=77 K and at room temperature on Co/Cu multilayered nanowires with layer thicknesses ranging from a few nm to 1 μm. We use our model to obtain a good quantitative fit to the experimental results in both the short spin diffusion length limit and out of this limit. We discuss the temperature dependence of the bulk parameters, the scattering spin asymmetry coefficient and spin diffusion length in the Co layers. Received: 25 January 1998 / Accepted: 6 May 1998     

Evidence for a crossover in the frequency dependence of the acoustic attenuation in vitreous silica

We report measurements of the sound attenuation coefficient in vitreous silica, for sound waves of wavelength between 50 and 80 nm, performed with the new inelastic UV light scattering technique. These data indicate that in silica glass a crossover between a temperature-dependent (at low frequency) and a temperature-independent (at high frequency) acoustic attenuation mechanism occurs at Q approximately equal to 0.15 nm(-1). The absence of any signature in the static structure factor at this Q value suggests that the observed crossover should be associated with local elastic constant fluctuations.     

Independent freezing of charge and spin dynamics in La1.5Sr0.5CoO4

We present elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering measurements characterizing peculiar short-range charge-orbital and spin order in the layered perovskite material La1.5Sr0.5CoO4. We find that below T(c) approximately 750 K holes introduced by Sr doping lose mobility and enter a statically ordered charge glass phase with loosely correlated checkerboard arrangement of empty and occupied d(3z(2)-r(2)) orbitals ( Co3+ and Co2+). The dynamics of the resultant mixed spin system is governed by the anisotropic nature of the crystal-field Hamiltonian and the peculiar exchange pattern produced by the orbital order. It undergoes a spin freezing transition at a much lower temperature, T(s) less, similar30 K.     

Elastic scattering and surface effects on Auger electron angular distribution and attenuation law

We have studied, through Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, the effect of elastic scattering and the presence of a real surface on the angular distribution and attenuation of the no-energy-loss electron emission. We performed two kinds of MC approaches, with and without surface, altering the ratio among elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections to enhance the elastic scattering effect. We found that angular distribution is always affected by the elastic scattering, meanwhile the attenuation law shape is only altered in the presence of a real surface and elastic scattering together. We also compared simulation results with analytical model predictions.     

Magnetic ordering in double perovskites R2CoMnO6 (R = Y, Tb) investigated by high resolution neutron spectroscopy

We have investigated low energy nuclear spin excitations in double perovskite compounds R(2)CoMnO(6) (R=Y, Tb) by inelastic neutron scattering with a high resolution back-scattering spectrometer. We observed inelastic signals at about 2.1 μeV for Y(2)CoMnO(6) and also for Tb(2)CoMnO(6) at T = 2 K in both energy-loss and energy-gain sides. We interpret these inelastic peaks to be due to the transitions between the hyperfine split nuclear levels of the (59)Co nucleus. The inelastic peaks move towards the central elastic peak and finally merge with it at the magnetic ordering temperature T(C). The energy of the low energy excitations decreases continuously and becomes zero at T(C) ≈ 75 K for Y(2)CoMnO(6) and T(C) ≈ 100 K for Tb(2)CoMnO(6). For Tb(2)CoMnO(6), which contains magnetic rare earth ions, additional quasielastic scattering due presumably to the fluctuations of large Tb magnetic moments was observed. The present study reveals the magnetic ordering of the Co sublattice. The results of this investigation along with that obtained by us for other compounds indicate the presence of unquenched orbital moments in some of the Co compounds.     

Investigation of the effects of spin injection of charge carriers from a ferromagnetic Ni(Co)/GaAs Schottky contact in quantum well heterostructures

The circularly polarized electroluminescence of quantum-confined InGaAs/GaAs heterostructures with a ferromagnetic Ni(Co)/GaAs Schottky contact has been investigated. It is shown that the high degree of circular polarization (to 42%) is due to the injection of spin-polarized holes from the ferromagnetic metal. The dependence of the spin injection efficiency on the type of the metal/GaAs interface and the quantum well depth has been analyzed. The spin coherence length of holes was found to be ≈80 nm at 1.5 K.     

A shell-model calculation in the continuum for the reaction N15(n,n′) N15

Using the shell-model approach to nuclear reactions, the Lippmann-Schwinger equation for elastic and inelastic nucléon scattering is solved numerically. The procedure is based upon an adaptation of a method due toWeinberg. The differential and total elastic and inelastic cross-sections and the asymmetry of the scattering of a transversally polarised beam of neutrons are calculated. The positions (energies and total widths) and residues (partial widths) of the scattering matrix in the complex plane are determined. The results are discussed and compared with previous treatments.     

Elastic and inelastic diffraction of Mössbauer γ-rays from KCN

Mössbauer γ-ray diffraction was used to discriminate between the elastic and inelastic scattering intensities from the (1 1 1) to (5 5 5) Bragg reflections of a single crystal of KCN. The energy resolution of our experiment was 28 neV. We observe pronounced inelastic peaks at each Bragg point, while the elastic scattering dies out rapidly due to a large Debye-Waller factor. Thus in case of (4 4 4) and (5 5 5) the inelastic scattering is larger in magnitude than the elastic one.     

Lidar observation of the bubble trace in the sea surface layer

The evolutions of the signals of the elastic (Mie) and Raman backscattering of the Nd:YAG laser second-harmonic radiation in the upper layer of the sea under cavitational perturbation induced by the passage of a high-speed boat are compared under the conditions of the outdoor experiment. It is shown that the signal of the elastic scattering on bubbles returns to the background level within the time of ∼10 min. The relaxation time of the spontaneous Raman scattering signal can be an order of magnitude larger than this value (the evaluated value under the particular conditions of this experiment is ∼120 min). Interpretation is given to this difference in attenuation time of the elastic and inelastic scattering signals at the cavitational perturbation of the sea.     

Cross section of inelastic polarized neutron scattering by superconducting rings

A general expression for the cross section of inelastic magnetic scattering of cold polarized neutrons by superconducting rings has been derived. In this scattering process, the metastable superconducting current changes via quantum jumps corresponding to a decrease in the number of fluxoids in the superconducting ring by one or several units and the change in the energy of the ring is transferred to the kinetic energy of the scattered neutron. For rings from type-II superconductors with a thickness smaller than the field penetration depth but larger than the electron mean free path, the cross sections of inelastic scattering with neutron spin flip have been obtained for the first time. The possibility of increasing the cross section of neutron scattering by a system of rings has been discussed.     

Surface magnetism of Fe(110) from polarized electron scattering

Exchange- and spin—orbit-induced scattering asymmetry spectra of polarized slow electrons from the ferromagnetic Fe(110) surface have been calculated by dynamical theory and found to agree with recent experimental data taken at room temperature. Comparison of exchange asymmetry spectra, obtained for various interaction and layer-dependent magnetization models, with the data implies firstly an enhancement of the surface magnetization by about 30% with respect to the bulk, and secondly the importance of spin-dependent localized inelastic electron—electron scattering processes.     

Λ超子碎裂函数的夸克味分离

利用有非极化和极化的A和A超子产生的中微子和反中微子的深度非弹性散射,可以清晰地测量各种味的夸克变为A超子的各种非极化和极化的碎裂函数,也就是得到了碎裂函数的夸克味分离.这种方法不但适用于轻味夸克。反夸克,也适用于奇异夸克s和s.和产生A和A的极化电子的深度非弹性散射结合起来,人们就能够系统地测量或核实各种味和各种自旋的夸克的相关碎裂函数.这样的测量给有关强子的自旋结构和核子海的夸克一反夸克不对称性的各种预言提供判决性的实验.     

A practical depth distribution function for angle-resolved Auger/photoelectron spectroscopy

It is shown that, to a good approximation, over the range of energies (single scattering albedo, ω 0.5) and angles (take-off angle >30°) used in angle-resolved AES and XPS spectroscopy, the depth distribution function (DDF) is approximately exponential with decay length Λ = λ_i(1 + λ_i/λ_tr)^−1/2, for inelastic mean free path (IMFP) λ_i, and transport mean free path λ_tr.

As Λ is also the length measured for the attenuation length experimentally (with either the overlayer technique or from backscatter spectra, equivalent to λ_i, using an interpretation which neglects elastic effects), the CDP may be obtained by straightforward Laplace inversion using experimentally determined attenuation lengths. That is, the correct composition depth profile may be obtained from systematically ignoring elastic scattering.     

Electron transmission measurements of electron mean free path in supported thin films from 1–5 keV

Measurements are made of the transmission of medium energy electrons through in vacuo deposited films in order to determine the inelastic electron mean free path as a function of energy. Films of Al, Ge and Au are deposited in small increments on 20–30 Å carbon substrates supported by “holey” carbon films. The no-loss electron current is measured for each thickness as a continuous function of incident energy in the range of 1–5 keV. Although this preliminary experiment does not result in a precise separation of elastic and inelastic scattering effects, the attenuation lengths estimated are in reasonable agreement with measured and calculated in-elastic mean free paths. Elastic scattering cross sections appear to be smaller than estimated by simple theory.     

Size quantization of electronic states in very thin platinum films

The Quantum Size Effect (QSE) is expected to exist in metal films. It has been discussed in a number of theoretical papers. The experimental verification is difficult because of the very short Fermi wave length of the charge carriers in metals. Surface roughness of the films and diffuse scattering of the charge carriers from the film surface usually prevent the observation of QSE. We succeeded in preparing Pt-films with surface roughness below 0.3 nm, which also exhibited partly specular reflection of the electrons from the film surface. Oscillations of the conductivity with the film thickness, due to QSE, were observed in the thickness range from 0.5 nm to 2.0 nm. Band splitting was observed in the thickness range from 5 nm to 20 nm by means of tunneling spectroscopy. From the results we suggest that electrons as well as holes in closed Fermi surfaces participate in the QSE. Holes in open Fermi surfaces, despite their larger density, could not be observed. The measurements allow the determination of the Fermi energy and the effective masses of both electrons and holes in quasi amorphous films.     

Spin-polarized injection into a p-type GaAs layer from a Co2 MnAl injector

Electric luminescence and its circular polarization in a Co2 MnAl injector-based light emitting diode (LED) has been detected at the transition of e-A0 C , where injected spin-polarized electrons recombine with bound holes at carbon acceptors. A spin polarization degree of 24.6% is obtained at 77 K after spin-polarized electrons traverse a distance of 300 nm before they recombine with holes bound at neutral carbon acceptors in a p + -GaAs layer. The large volume of the p + -GaAs layer can facilitate the detection of weak electric luminescence (EL) from e-A 0C emission without being quenched at higher bias as in quantum wells. Moreover, unlike the interband electric luminescence in the p+ -GaAs layer, where the spin polarization of injected electrons is destroyed by a very effective electron-hole exchange scattering (BAP mechanism), the spin polarization of injected electrons seems to survive during their recombination with holes bound at carbon acceptors.     

Escape probability of signal photoelectrons from non-crystalline solids: influence of anisotropy of photoemission

The escape probability of photoelectrons as a function of depth of orgin haa been studied experimentally, analytically and by the Monte Carlo (MS) technique. The depth distribution function (DDF) describing the probability for an electron emitted at a certain depth to leave a surface without being scattered inelastically has been obtained by solving a kinetic equation in the transport approximation. The analytically derived DDF is a universal function of the ratio of the inealstic to the transport mean free paths and the asymmetry parameter. In the directions of minima of the angular distribution, this function is no longer exponential, but it may be essentially nonmonotonic, reaching its maximum value at the depth comparable with the inelastic mean free path. The maximum value of the DDF exceeds its surface value by about 50% for the asymmetry parameter being equal to 2 in the emission directions close to that of X-ray propagation. Under the same conditions, the mean escape depth of electrons may be several times larger than the value predicted by the usual XPS formalism. Such behaviour of the escape probability is explained by elastic scattering of photoelectrons.The solution to the kinetic equation for a uniform target is generalized for a sample with an arbitrary depth profile and depth-dependent elastic and inelastic scattering cross-sections under the condition of the ratio of the inelastic to the transport mean free paths being independent of depth. Analytical formulas for the photoelectron yield from overlayer/substrate structure have been derived and studied in detail. The analytical predictions are compared with the experimental and Monte Carlo simulation data obtained for aluminium oxide/aluminium specimen. A satisfactory agreement is observed between the experimental and theoretical results.