Direct Observation of a Bulklike Spin Moment at the $\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}/\mathrm{G}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{s}(100)\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}6$ Interface

Direct Observation of a Bulklike Spin Moment at the $F e / G a A s (100) − 4 \times 6$ Interface

J. S. Claydon, Y. B. Xu, M. Tselepi, J. A. C. Bland, and G. van der Laan

Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 037206 – Published 16 July 2004

Abstract

We have used x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, which offers a unique capability to give element specific information at submonolayer sensitivity, to determine the spin and orbital magnetic moments at the $F e / G a A s (100)$ interface. The wedge samples, grown by molecular beam epitaxy at room temperature, consisted of 0.25–1 monolayer (ML) Fe on $G a A s (100) − 4 \times 6$ capped with 9 ML Co and have shown Fe spin moments of $(1.84 - 1.96) μ_{B}$ and a large orbital enhancement. Our results demonstrate unambiguously that the $F e / G a A s (100) − 4 \times 6$ interface is ferromagnetic with a bulklike spin moment, which is highly promising for spintronics applications.