Electronic properties of Fe, Co, and Mn ultrathin films at the interface with MgO(001)

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.144414· OSTI ID:20719616

Sicot, M; Andrieu, S; Bertran, F; Fortuna, F ^[1]

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1. Laboratoire de Physique des Materiaux, UMR 7556 CNRS/Univ.Nancy I, B.P.239, F-54506 Vandoeuvre (France)

We have studied the electronic and magnetic properties of Co, Fe, and Mn(001) epitaxial monolayers in contact with a single-crystalline MgO(001) tunnelling barrier using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements. The XPS and XAS analysis clearly demonstrate the weak hybridization between the MgO barrier and Fe or Co. On the contrary, a net oxidization of the Mn layer in contact with the MgO layer was observed. The magnetic properties were characterized by probing the XMCD signal of a unique atomic plane of transition metal in contact with MgO. The Co and Fe ferromagnetic behavior were observed to be enhanced at the metal and oxide interface. Finally, no average magnetization was detected at the Mn/MgO interface, which was assumed to come from the Mn oxidization.

• OSTI ID: 20719616
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 72; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
COBALT
EPITAXY
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
HYBRIDIZATION
INTERFACES
IRON
LAYERS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETISM
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETORESISTANCE
MANGANESE
MONOCRYSTALS
OXIDATION
PHOTOEMISSION
THIN FILMS
TUNNEL EFFECT
X RADIATION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
X-RAY SPECTRA
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY