X-ray resonant magnetic scattering from structurally and magnetically rough interfaces in multilayered systems II. Diffuse scattering

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for analyzing diffuse x-ray resonant magnetic scattering from rough interfaces in multilayered systems, providing formulas in different approximations and comparing with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive theoretical formulation for diffuse magnetic scattering from rough multilayer interfaces, including multiple interfaces and magnetic domains, in both BA and DWBA.

Findings

Derived general expressions for diffuse scattering in BA and DWBA

Extended formulas to multilayered systems with multiple interfaces

Compared theoretical results with experimental magnetic diffuse scattering data

Abstract

The theoretical formulation of x-ray resonant magnetic scattering from rough surfaces and interfaces is given for the diffuse (off-specular) scattering, and general expressions are derived in both the Born approximation (BA) and the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) for both single and multiple interfaces. We also give in the BA the expression for off-specular magnetic scattering from magnetic domains. For this purpose, structural and magnetic interfaces are defined in terms of roughness parameters related to their height-height correlation functions and the correlations between them. The results are generalized to the case of multiple interfaces, as in the case of thin films or multilayers. Theoretical calculations for each of the cases are illustrated as numerical examples and compared with experimental data of mangetic diffuse scattering from a Gd/Fe multilayer.