Resonant Auger spectromicroscopy in ultrathin Fe films on W(110)

L₃M2,3M2,3Auger transition is measured near the L₃resonance of ferromagnetic Fe films on W(110). The kinetic energies of the Auger peaks display the typical Raman behaviour for photon energies well below the absorption threshold, where the Auger energy follows the changes in the photon energy. Classical Auger behaviour with constant kinetic energy sets in at about 1.5 eV below the L₃resonance independently from the number of Fe layers down to the monolayer thickness. Strong x-ray circular magnetic dichroism is observed at the L₃edge in the entire L₃M2,3M2,3Auger spectrum. Different Auger features originating from the final state with two 3p core holes show slight variations in the dichroic signal, which is attributed to the exchange interaction between the core holes and the valence band. Finally, XMCD-PEEM magnetic domain imaging using Auger electrons is demonstrated with a high level of contrast and lateral resolution approaching that of imaging with secondary photoelectrons.