Dichroic interference effects were observed in circularly polarized soft-x-ray reflectivity at the Co ${\mathit{L}}_{2,3}$ edges of a magnetic multilayer. The data show a maximum asymmetry ratio of 80%, greater than the degree of circular polarization of the incident light, a changeover in the dichroic characteristics with increasing grazing angle, and an inverted interference pattern in the angular dependence of the asymmetry ratio. These observations are explained successfully by a classical electromagnetic model calculation which includes the complete polarization state of the incident light and spatial interference within the multilayer.

• Received 29 April 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.50.9599