Direct Evidence of the Role of Hybridization in the X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism of a-Ce

Abstract

We present an x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of a [Ce(10 Å)/Fe(30 Å)] multilayer performed at the Ce-M4,5 absorption edges. In this system the Ce-4f electrons are strongly hybridized with the valence band. XMCD experiments show that they carry an ordered magnetic moment. The differences of the shape of the XMCD signals of a typical g-like compound (CeCuSi) and of the Ce/ Fe multilayer highlight the role of hybridization in determining the ground state of cerium atoms in the multilayer, which results in a mixing of J = 5/2 and J = 7/2 coupled states.