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Direct observation of a positive spin polarization at the (111) surface of magnetite

A. Pratt, M. Kurahashi, X. Sun, D. Gilks, and Y. Yamauchi
Phys. Rev. B 85, 180409(R) – Published 25 May 2012
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Abstract

We report direct experimental evidence showing that the spin polarization P at the surface of clean Fe3O4(111) is positive at the Fermi level EF as measured using a spin-polarized metastable helium beam [He(23S)] and a bulk Fe3O4(111) single crystal under high magnetic fields of up to 4 T. Density functional theory calculations confirm this surprising result, which has significant implications for the incorporation of magnetite in spintronic device applications. We also find that passivation of the surface with hydrogen does not enhance P(EF), unlike for the Fe3O4(001) surface, where a marked increase is observed.

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  • Received 2 February 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.180409

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. Pratt1,2, M. Kurahashi1, X. Sun1,3, D. Gilks2, and Y. Yamauchi1

  • 1National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
  • 2York Institute for Materials Research, Department of Physics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
  • 3University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China

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Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 18 — 1 May 2012

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