Resonance magnetic x-ray scattering study of erbium

The magnetic phases of erbium have been studied by resonance x-ray-scattering techniques. When the incident x-ray energy is tuned near the L(III) absorption edge, large resonant enhancements of the magnetic scattering are observed above 18 K. We have measured the energy and polarization dependence of this magnetic scattering and analyzed it using a simple model based on electric dipole and quadrupole transitions among atomic orbitals.

The line shapes can be fitted to a magnetic structure combining both c-axis-modulated and basal-plane components. Below 18 K, we have observed unusual behavior of the magnetic scattering as a function of energy, whose origin is not understood.