Spin-polarized Auger-electron spectroscopy

A comprehensive review of spin-polarized Auger-electron spectroscopy on 3d transition-metal ferromagnets is presented. The kind of information obtained from the Auger-electron spin polarization depends on the particular transition involved. Decays with emission of a valence electron probe the local magnetization at the site where the transition occurs. Particularly, the super-Coster-Kronig $M_{23}$ $M_{45}$ $M_{45}$ transitions are well suited for monitoring magnetic behavior with elemental resolution. Details of the spectra are sensitive to screening and electron correlation effects as illustrated by a comparison between Fe and Ni. Furthermore, core-hole-only decays—as exemplified by the $L_3$ $M_{23}$ $M_{23}$ process—yield exchange-interaction strengths between partly filled shells on a single atom.