Soft X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism Study Of Magnetite Nanoparticles

The magnetic circular dichroism in the soft-x-ray core-level absorption (XMCD) of magnetite nanoparticles has been studied. The XMCD spectrum at the Fe L-2, (3) edge closely resembles the reported one of bulk single crystals in shape. This suggests that the derived amorphous-like grain boundary and the size effect of the magnetite crystals do not significantly affect the electronic structures and the local magnetism of Fe ions. It is also found that the orbital magnetic moment on Fe ions is rather small or quenched.