Theory of light scattering off the surface of a Heisenberg ferromagnet

Abstract

A theory is presented for one-magnon light scattering by reflection from the surface of a semi-infinite Heisenberg ferromagnet. Results are deduced for the scattering cross section and for the integrated intensity by making use of results derived in a previous paper (see ibid., vol.9, p.2121, 1976) for the transverse spin-spin correlation functions. The calculations include an evaluation of the scattering contribution from surface and bulk spin-waves. The relative magnitude of these two types of contribution to the total scattering is discussed, treating separately the cases of a transparent ferromagnet and an absorptive ferromagnet.