Magnetic Circular Dichroism in Two-Photon Photoemission

We report the observation of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) in two-photon photoemission (2PPE). The Heusler alloys Ni2MnGa and Co2FeSi were investigated by excitation with femtosecond laser light, showing MCD asymmetries of A = (3.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(-3) for Ni2MnGa and of A = (2.1 +/- 1.0) x 10(-3) for Co2FeSi, respectively. A theoretical explanation is provided based on local spin-density calculations for the magnetic dichroic response; the computed 2PPE MCD agrees well with the experiment. The observed 2PPE magnetic contrast represents an interesting alternative for future time-resolved photoemission studies on surface magnetism practicable in the laboratory.