Magnetic Exchange Splitting in Fe above the Curie Temperature

M. Pickel, A. B. Schmidt, M. Weinelt, and M. Donath
Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 237204 – Published 9 June 2010

Abstract

The magnetic exchange splitting of electronic states in a 7 monolayer Fe film on Cu(001) was investigated below and above the Curie temperature TC, using image-potential surface states as sensor. At TC, the long-range magnetic order breaks down as reflected by a vanishing spin splitting and vanishing spin polarization. The exchange splitting, in contrast, does not change abruptly at TC but persists up to T=1.2TC. Equally, the spin-integrated linewidth shows no signature of the magnetic phase transition but smoothly decreases with increasing temperature. Our experimental results confirm theoretical expectations that, at TC, the long-range magnetic order disappears but the local magnetic moments and, in particular, the valence electronic structure are unaffected by the phase transition.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 18 December 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.237204

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. Pickel1,2, A. B. Schmidt2,1, M. Weinelt2,3, and M. Donath1,*

  • 1Physikalisches Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms–Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Straße 10, 48149 Münster, Germany
  • 2Max-Born-Institut, Max-Born-Straße 2A, 12489 Berlin, Germany
  • 3Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Physik, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany

  • *markus.donath@uni-muenster.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 23 — 11 June 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×