Spin-Flip Stoner Excitations in a Ferromagnet Observed by Inelastic Spin-Polarized Electron Scattering

It is shown by electron-energy-loss spectroscopy with spin analysis that electrons inelastically scattered from a ferromagnet (${\mathrm{Fe}}_{82}$ ${\mathrm{B}}_{12}$ ${\mathrm{Si}}_6$) can have a high spin polarization as a result of exchange scattering. A maximum of the spin polarization occurs around 2.2-eV energy loss corresponding to the ferromagnetic exchange splitting. This experiment offers new possibilities for studying spin-flip Stoner excitations in ferromagnets.