X ray magnetic circular dichroism absorption spectroscopy

Basic concepts and applications about XMCD absorption spectroscopy were reviewed. One may deduce the spin magnetic moments, orbital magnetic moments and magnetic structure anisotropies of magnetic elements according to sum rules of XMCD. Magnetic films, ultra - thin films and sandwich films can be studied by XMCD, in which there are distinguishing features from that of bulk samples. By now, XMCD has combined with other techniques, such as, microscopy, EXAFS/XAFS, to extend magnetic researches. The design of the beamline and endstation of soft X ray magnetic circular dichroism at the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory and its present development were introduced.