Research frontiers in magnetic materials at soft X-ray synchrotron radiation facilities

Current and anticipated future research frontiers in magnetism and magnetic materials are discussed from a perspective of soft X-ray synchrotron utilization. Topics covered include dimensionality (including effects of spatial dimensions and differing time scales), magneto-electronics, structure/property relationships, and exploratory materials, with an emphasis on challenges that limit the understanding and advancement of these areas. Many soft X-ray spectroscopies can be used to study magnetism associated with transition and rare earth metals with element- and chemical-state specificity and large cross-sections associated with dipole transitions from p --> d and d --> f states. Established electron spectroscopies, including spin-resolved techniques, yield near-surface sensitivity in conjunction with linear and circular magnetic dichroism. Emerging photon-based scattering and Faraday and Kerr magneto-optical measurements can be used beyond the near-surface region and in applied magnetic fields. Microscopies based on either electron or photon spectroscopies to image the magnetization at 50 nm resolution are also emerging, as are time-resolved measurements that utilize the natural time structure of synchrotron sources. Examples of research using these techniques to impact our fundamental understanding of magnetism and magnetic materials are given, as are future opportunities. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.