Occupancy of the 3d electron shell of Co and Cr in nanosized CoCrPt magnetic thin films

The effect of adding Pt element in Co-Cr-based alloys was studied in terms of the white-line intensities of the Co and Cr at the onsets of the L-2 and L-3 absorption edges. These intensities are due to the excitation of 2p(1/2) or 2p(3/2) core electrons to unoccupied d-like states near the Fermi level. The normalized white-line intensities reflect the filling of the d states. Enhancement and redistribution of the L-2,L-3 white lines in the CoCrPt alloys as compared to pure elements can be correlated with changes in the 3d shell occupancy of Co and Cr atoms upon alloying. Cr and Co were found giving electrons during alloying according to the tendency of electronegativity. The redistribution of the 3d shell in Co was mainly due to the addition of Pt element. The study of d-band variation in the transition metals is helpful to understand the change due to alloying. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.