Element specific spin-resolved densities of states in amorphous Fe75B25 probed with a synchrotron radiation source

The partial spin-dependent densities of states (DOS) of both the iron and the boron in Fe–B amorphous magnetic alloys have been determined from spin-resolved photoemission using a synchrotron radiation source. The spin-integrated energy distribution curves (EDCs), polarization spectra and the spin-resolved EDCs show distinct differences between 15 and 40 eV photon energies due to strikingly different photon energy dependencies of the cross sections of Fe-d and B-p states. The B-p states were found to hybridize with Fe-d states and occupy a binding energy range of about 1–5.5 eV with a negative polarization; i.e., the B moment is “antiferromagetically” coupled with that of the Fe-d moment.