Application of synchrotron radiation to the study of magnetic materials

Recent results of studies of magnetic materials using synchrotron radiation are reviewed. The influence of magnetic effects on X-ray scattering is studied for linearly and circularly polarized photons, and the effects of magnetic circular dichroism on the spectra of X-ray absorption and photoelectron emission are discussed. It is shown that X-ray magnetooptic techniques provide fine detail of crystal and magnetic structures and also make it possible to separate the spin and orbital contributions to the total moment; to obtain element- and position-sensitive information on the magnetic properties of the material; to visualize domains and domain walls; and to probe magnetization reversal dynamics. A comparison of magnetic neutron and X-ray methods is given.