A method to measure spin-dependent x-ray-absorption spectra that does not require long-range magnetic order is presented. It is based on the spin dependence of the emission spectrum. Using a high-resolution spectrometer to separate and select the different spin-polarized final states in the Kβ fluorescence spectrum of MnO and ${\mathrm{MnF}}_2$, spin-dependent absorption spectra in the vicinity of the Mn K edge were measured. Since this method uses the direction of the local magnetic moment as a reference it can be applied to paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems as well as to ferromagnetic.

• Received 4 September 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.46.14274