Dichroism and spin information in soft X-ray emission

We demonstrate that soft X-ray emission excited at the L-3 threshold of Fe metal maps the spin-resolved local partial density of occupied states. In contrast to earlier predictions, the spin resolution is achieved primarily by selective excitation. Circular magnetic dichroism in the X-ray emission process is also shown to have an influence on the final state spin contribution to the spectra. The importance of taking reflection, self-absorption of the incoming and outgoing radiation and the Auger decay channels into consideration in the data analysis is emphasized. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.