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The Fe/MgO magnetic tunnel junction is a classic spintronic system, with current importance technologically and interest for future innovation. The key magnetic properties are linked directly to the structure of hard-to-access buried interfaces, and the Fe and MgO components near the surface are unstable when exposed to air, making a deeper probing, nondestructive, in-situ measurement ideal for this system. We have thus applied hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HXPS) and standing-wave (SW) HXPS in the few kilo-electron-volt energy range to probe the structure of an epitaxially grown MgO/Fe superlattice. The superlattice consists of 9 repeats of MgO grown on Fe by magnetron sputtering on an MgO(001) substrate, with a protective Al2O3 capping layer. We determine through SW-HXPS that 8 of the 9 repeats are similar and ordered, with a period of 33 ± 4 Å, with the minor presence of FeO at the interfaces and a significantly distorted top bilayer with ca. 3 times the oxidation of the lower layers at the top MgO/Fe interface. There is evidence of asymmetrical oxidation on the top and bottom of the Fe layers. We find agreement with dark-field scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) and X-ray reflectivity measurements. Through the STEM measurements, we confirm an overall epitaxial stack with dislocations and warping at the interfaces of ca. 5 Å. We also note a distinct difference in the top bilayer, especially MgO, with possible Fe inclusions. We thus demonstrate that SW-HXPS can be used to probe deep buried interfaces of novel magnetic devices with few-angstrom precision.

The photo-fragmentation of the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) molecule was studied using synchrotron radiation and a magnetic mass spectrometer. The total cationic yield spectrum was recorded in the photon energy region around the sulfur K edge. The sulfur composition of the highest occupied molecular orbital's and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital's in the DMSO molecule has been obtained using both ab initio and density functional theory methods. Partial cation and anion-yield measurements were obtained in the same energy range. An intense resonance is observed at 2475.4 eV. Sulfur atomic ions present a richer structure around this resonant feature, as compared to other fragment ions. The yield curves are similar for most of the other ionic species, which we interpret as due to cascade Auger processes leading to multiply charged species which then undergo Coulomb explosion. The anions S-, C-, and O- are observed for the first time in deep-core-level excitation of DMSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental determination of valence band offsets (VBOs) at interfaces in complex-oxide heterostructures using conventional soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SXPS, hν ≤ 1500 eV) and reference core-level binding energies can present challenges because of surface charging when photoelectrons are emitted and insufficient probing depth to clearly resolve the interfaces. In this paper, we compare VBOs measured with SXPS and its multi-keV hard x-ray analogue (HXPS, hν > 2000 eV). We demonstrate that the use of HXPS allows one to minimize charging effects and to probe more deeply buried interfaces in heterostructures such as SrTiO3/LaNiO3 and SrTiO3/GdTiO3. The VBO values obtained by HXPS for these interfaces are furthermore found to be close to those determined by first-principles calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a series of photoabsorption and partial-ion-yield experiments on thionyl chloride, SOCl2, at both the sulfur and chlorine K edges. The photoabsorption results exhibit better resolution than previously published data, leading to alternate spectral assignments for some of the features, particularly in the Rydberg-series region. Based on measured fragmentation patterns, we suggest the LUMO, of a′ character, is delocalized over the entire molecular skeleton. Unusual behavior of the S2 + fragment hints at a relatively localized bond rupture (the S-O bond below the S K edge and the S-Cl bonds below the Cl K edge) following excitation to some of the higher lying intermediate states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronegativity is a well-known property of atoms and substituent groups. Because there is no direct way to measure it, establishing a useful scale for electronegativity often entails correlating it to another chemical parameter; a wide variety of methods have been proposed over the past 80 years to do just that. This work reports a new approach that connects electronegativity to a spectroscopic parameter derived from resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. The new method is demonstrated using a series of chlorine-containing compounds, focusing on the Cl 2p-1LUMO1 electronic states reached after Cl 1s → LUMO core excitation and subsequent KL radiative decay. Based on an electron-density analysis of the LUMOs, the relative weights of the Cl 2pz atomic orbital contributing to the Cl 2p3/2 molecular spin-orbit components are shown to yield a linear electronegativity scale consistent with previous approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of isolated CH3Cl molecules using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). The high-resolution spectra allow extraction of information about nuclear dynamics in the core-excited molecule. Polarization-resolved RIXS spectra exhibit linear dichroism in the spin-orbit intensities, a result interpreted as due to chemical environment and singlet-triplet exchange in the molecular core levels. From analysis of the polarization-resolved data, Cl 2px, y and 2pz electronic populations can be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the photofragmentation properties of the three-membered ring heterocyclic molecule ethylene sulfide or thiirane, C2H4S, by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Positive ions have been collected as a function of photon energy around the S K ionization threshold. Branching ratios were derived for all detected ions, which are informative of the decay dynamics and photofragmentation patterns of the core-excited species. We present a new assignment of the spectral features around the S K-edge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a partial ion yield experiment on freon 13, CF3Cl, excited in the vicinity of the C 1s and Cl 2p ionization thresholds. We have collected a large amount of cationic fragments and a few anionic fragments at both edges. We have observed a strong intensity dependence of Rydberg transitions with ion fragment size for the CFnCl+ and CFn+/F+ (n=0–3) series at both the Cl 2p and C 1s ionization edges. Selectivity in the fragmentation processes involving the C–Cl and C–F bonds are highlighted by the intensities of the C 1s to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and LUMO+1 transitions measured on the CFnCl+ and CFn+ yields. Equally, by comparison with their cation counterpart, we discuss possible bond-length dependence for the anion formation at the carbon 1s edge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the photofragmentation properties of two three-membered ring heterocyclic molecules, C2H4O and C2H4S, by total and partial ion yield spectroscopy. Positive and negative ions have been collected as a function of photon energy around the C 1s and O 1s ionization thresholds in C2H4O, and around the S 2p and C 1s thresholds in C2H4S. We underline similarities and differences between these two analogous systems. We present a new assignment of the spectral features around the C K-edge and the sulfur L2,3 edges in C2H4S. In both systems, we observe high fragmentation efficiency leading to positive and negative ions when exciting these molecules at resonances involving core-to-Rydberg transitions. The system, with one electron in an orbital far from the ionic core, relaxes preferentially by spectator Auger decay, and the resulting singly charged ion with two valence holes and one electron in an outer diffuse orbital can remain in excited states more susceptible to dissociation. A state-selective fragmentation pattern is analyzed in C2H4S which leads to direct production of S2+ following the decay of virtual-orbital excitations to final states above the double-ionization threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the fragmentation dynamics of core-excited SiF4 by means of soft-x-ray photoexcitation and partial positive and negative ion yield measurements around the Si L2,3-shell and F K-shell ionization thresholds. All detectable ionic fragments are reported and we observe significant differences between the various partial ion yields near the Si 2p threshold. The differences are similar to our previous results from CH3Cl showing more extended fragmentation in correspondence to transitions to Rydberg states. At variance with smaller systems, we observe negative ion production in the shape resonance region. This can be related to the possibility in a relatively large system to dissipate positive charge over several channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present partial-ion-yield experiments on the methyl chloride molecule excited in the vicinity of the Cl2p and C1s inner shells. A large number of fragments, cations produced by dissociation or recombination processes, as well as anionic species, have been detected. Although the spectra exhibit different intensity distributions depending on the core-excited atom, general observations include strong site-selective fragmentation along the C–Cl bond axis and a strong intensity dependence of transitions involving Rydberg series on fragment size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an extensive study on total and partial-ion-yield spectroscopy around both the S 2p and F 1s thresholds in SF6. All positive and negative single-ion channels have been measured. Below the F 1s threshold we detect a large variation in relative intensity of the resonant structures according to the specific channel monitored, indicating selective fragmentation. Above threshold, at variance with previous cases described by us, we detect high-intensity structures related to shape resonances not only in the cation channels but also for the anions. We discuss the applicability and limits of a model we have developed for the analysis of shape resonances in anion yields as a function of molecular size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fragmentation dynamics of core-excited H2S has been studied by means of partial anion and cation yield measurements around the S L2,3-subshell ionization thresholds. All detectable ionic fragments are reported, and significant differences between partial ion yields are observed. Possible dissociation pathways are discussed by comparison to previous studies of electron spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an extensive study on total and partial-ion-yield spectroscopy around both the S 2p and F 1s thresholds in SF6. All positive and negative single-ion channels have been measured. Below the F 1s threshold we detect a large variation in relative intensity of the resonant structures according to the specific channel monitored, indicating selective fragmentation. Above threshold, at variance with previous cases described by us, we detect high-intensity structures related to shape resonances not only in the cation channels but also for the anions. We discuss the applicability and limits of a model we have developed for the analysis of shape resonances in anion yields as a function of molecular size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial ion yield spectroscopy provides a very detailed picture of fragmentation processes following core excitation in isolated molecules. We exploit this potential in the analysis of decay processes following C1s→ π and C1s→ Rydberg excitations in ethylene and acetylene. We show that the relative intensity of spectral features related to the excitation to empty molecular orbitals or to Rydberg states is a function of the time variation of the fragmentation process. Namely, we see an intensity increase in the Rydberg states compared to the molecular orbitals as the fragmentation process becomes more extensive, a result attributable to the diffuse nature of the Rydberg virtual orbitals, which makes spectator decay more likely than participator decay. Therefore, the number of dissociative final states that can be reached from Rydberg excitation is higher than for excitation to empty molecular orbitals. In acetylene, we obtain the first direct evidence of the presence of a σ* excitation embedded in the Rydberg series. The formation of the fragment H[SUP+,SUB2] in ethylene occurs following a recombination process, while in acetylene it is related to excess vibrational energy stored in the intermediate state. Furthermore, we can use the enhancement in channels corresponding to doubly charged species as an indication for the presence of shape resonances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]