Spin-aligned momentum distributions of transition-metal ferromagnets studied with circularly polarized synchrotron radiation

The momentum distributions of the unpaired spin electrons in Fe, Co, and Ni have been measured using circularly polarized x rays produced from an x-ray phase plate developed at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source. Estimates of the negative polarization of the $s-p$ components of the conduction electrons have been made. The spin-dependent transition-metal momentum profiles are compared to theoretical calculations. Preliminary results from gadolinium are also presented.