Magnetic circular dichroism in the soft X ray absorption region of several Mn based ferromagnetic alloys

Abstract We have investigated the magnetic electronic structures of PtMnSb, NiMnSb, MnSb and MnAlGe by XAS and MCD spectra in the Mn 2p core absorption region. The different degree of the electron itinerancy of the Mn 3d state is discussed. The large orbital moment of Mn 3d electrons is revealed for MnSb by the MCD spectrum. In addition, an induced magnetic moment of Sb valence orbital is clearly indicated for NiMnSb by the MCD spectrum in the Sb 3d core excitation region.