Atomic-scale surface morphology of epitaxial ferromagnetic MnAs thin films grown on vicinal GaAs(111)B substrates
We have investigated the atomic-scale surface morphology and magnetic anisotropy of ferromagnetic MnAs films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on vicinal GaAs(111)B substrates misoriented 2{degree} toward the [{bar 1}{bar 1}2] direction. The MnAs films were grown in a step-flow-like manner and atomically flat terraces appeared on the surface in the temperature range between 220 and 300{degree}C. The terrace width was elongated dramatically in comparison with the original terrace width on the GaAs buffer layer, which resulted from the macrostep formation induced by the step-bunching phenomenon during the growth of MnAs. The terrace width and the macrostep height were 70 and 2 nm, respectively, for the MnAs film grown at 250{degree}C and both values increased with increasing the growth temperature. The MnAs films grown on the vicinal surface were found to exhibit in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy induced by the macrosteps, which was not observed in the MnAs films grown on the exact GaAs(111)B surface. {copyright} 2001 American Institute of Physics.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 40203836
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 89, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1360258; Othernumber: JAPIAU000089000011006677000001; 429111MMM; PBD: 1 Jun 2001; ISSN 0021-8979
- Publisher:
- The American Physical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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