X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and magnetism of Mn–Pd alloys

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetic susceptibility of MnxPd1−x alloys and compounds are reported. Both valence band and core level spectra were analyzed. The most important feature of the observed spectra is the well-defined magnetic exchange splitting of the Mn 2p3/2 lines, giving a direct evidence of the existence of local moments in the Anderson's sense confined on Mn sites in MnxPd1−x alloys. The predominant interaction in MnxPd1−x alloys is an antiferromagnetic interaction between both near-neighbor Mn and Pd atoms and Mn–Mn pairs.