Growth, structure, and magnetism of γ-phase Mn ultrathin films on Cu3Au(100)

Abstract

Ultrathin γ-phase (face-center cubic) Mn films were prepared by epitaxial growth on Cu3Au(100). Kinematic analysis of low energy electron diffraction I∕V showed a structure transformation of Mn films from nearly face-center cubic to face-center tetragonal with increasing coverage. No ferromagnetic signal in Mn∕Cu3Au(100) was observed. For 21 ML capping film of Fe on Mn films, the hysteresis loop of Fe was biased. The bias field for 21MLFe∕15MLMn∕Cu3Au(100) was ∼200Oe at 110 K with the blocking temperature Tb∼300K. This observation of exchange bias substantiates the theoretical prediction of antiferromagnetism in γ-phase Mn.

Growth, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Artificially Layered NiMn in Contact to Ferromagnetic Co on Cu3Au(001)

“…[29] However, this was not the case for all growth conditions. [27,[30][31][32][33] In our case, MEED oscillations for the growth of Mn=Cu 3 Auð001Þ up to thicknesses above 60 ML could be observed. [34] An oscillating MEED intensity, which is a fingerprint of a layer-by-layer growth mode, was found for all disordered Ni x Mn 100Àx alloys and the ALF.…”

“…Its presence in disordered Ni x Mn 100Àx alloy films and pure Mn films on Cu 3 Auð001Þ has been discussed before. [25,30,31] The layer-by-layer growth opens the way to atomic-scale manipulation of the interface roughness. [42] In the present study, we have stopped the growth of the Ni and Mn layers at the maxima of the specularly reflected (00)-spot MEED intensity, minimizing the roughness.…”