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AM: Magnetismus

AM 18: Postersitzung Fürstenberghaus

AM 18.10: Poster

Wednesday, March 19, 1997, 14:30–17:30, F"u

STRUCTURE OF EPITAXIAL Fe FILMS ON MgO(100) — •R. Schad, J.F. Lawler, A. Quinn, S. Jordan, and H. van Kempen — EVSF2, Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, NL 6515 ED Nijmegen

We investigated the epitaxial growth of bcc Fe on MgO(100) using STM and LEED. This material combination is particularly interesting for the predicted unique magnetic properties of a Fe monolayer on MgO, the highly spin-polarised surface state of Fe(100) and the importance of the surface roughness of Fe/MgO for the amplitude of the Giant Magnetoresistance of epitaxial Fe/Cr superlattices. We found the island size and shape to vary with the deposition temperature and post-deposition annealing. Relatively smooth island surfaces can be obtained by deposition around 160C, however, the island heights distribution is rather irregular then. The rms roughness is lowest for deposition at 110C. At lower deposition temperatures the islands become more round shaped, likely due to a reduction of step edge diffusion. Post-deposition annealing to temperatures around 210C increases the overall variation of the island height distribution.