Study of the island morphology at the early stages of Fe/Mo(110) MBE growth

We present theoretical study of morphology of Fe islands grown at Mo(110) surface in submonolayer MBE mode. We utilize atomistic SOS model with bond counting, and interactions of Fe adatom up to third nearest neighbors. We performed KMC simulations for different values of adatom interactions and varying temperatures. We have found that, while for the low temperature islands are fat fractals, for the temperature 500 K islands have faceted rhombic-like shape. For the higher temperature, islands acquire a rounded shape. In order to evaluate qualitatively morphological changes, we measured average aspect ratio of islands. We calculated dependence of the average aspect ratio on the temperature, and on the strength of interactions of an adatom with neighbors.      

Magnetic anisotropies and coupling mechanisms in Fe/Mo(110) nanostripes

Using low-temperature (5 K) spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we have studied the morphology and magnetic properties of monolayer (ML) and double layer (DL) thick Fe nanowires grown by step flow on a Mo(110) single crystal. Magnetic contrast has been obtained using tungsten tips covered by Au/Co thin films. We find that the DL Fe nanowires, similarly to ML Fe nanowires, are perpendicularly magnetized. Because of the dipolar coupling, separated DL Fe nanowires are antiferromagnetically coupled. DL wires that are touching at step edges are ferromagnetically ordered due to direct exchange coupling. We measured the widths of the magnetic domain walls in the ML and DL Fe nanowires. The domain wall width increases with the thickness of Fe.     

The ferromagnetic monolayer Fe(110) on W(110)

Ferromagnetic order in the pseudomorphic monolayer Fe(110) on W(110) was analyzed experimentally using Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS) and Torsion Oscillation Magnetometry (TOM). The monolayer is thermodynamically stable, crystallizes to large monolayer patches at elevated temperatures and therefore forms an excellent approximation to the ideal monolayer structure. It is ferromagnetic below a Curie-temperatureT _c,mono, which is given by (282±3) K for the Ag-coated layer, (290±10) K for coating by Cu, Ag or Au and ≈210 K for the free monolayer. For the Ag-coated monolayer, ground state hyperfine fieldB _hf (0)=(11.9±0.3) T and magnetic moment per atom μ=2.53 μ_B could be determined, in fair agreement with theoretical predictions. Unusual properties of the phase transition are detected by the combination of both experimental techniques. Strong magnetic anisotropies, which are essential for ferromagnetic order, are determined by CEMS.     

Potassium adsorption on Fe(110)

LEED, AES, UPS and XPS were used to study submonolayer coverages of potassium on Fe(110). At room temperature the maximum potassium coverage is characterized by a LEED superstructure. This LEED pattern is interpreted as being due to a hexagonal close-packed K layer on Fe(110), resulting in a maximum atom density of 5.3 × 10¹⁴ cm^?2, i.e.θ k = 0.31. The work function change and the shift of the K(2p) and K(3p) core levels with potassium coverage indicate a charge transfer from potassium to iron at low potassium coverages.     

Spin-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of the MgO/Fe(110) system

The surface structure and electronic properties of ultrathin MgO layers grown on epitaxial Fe(110) films were investigated at room temperature by means of electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and spin-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The spin polarization at the Fermi level (E_F) of the Fe(110) film decreases sharply with increasing thickness of the MgO layer. This behavior arises from the formation of a thin FeO layer at the MgO(111)/Fe(110) interface, as revealed by structural and spectroscopic investigations. The strong attenuation of the intrinsic spin polarization is qualitatively attributed to the scattering of spin-polarized electrons at the unoccupied d-orbitals of Fe²⁺. PACS 68.35.-p; 68.55.-a; 73.20.r; 75.70.Cn; 79.60.-I     

Desorption of H2 from W(110) and Fe covered W(110) surfaces

The kinetics of H₂ desorption from H/W(110) and H/Fe₁/W(110) were studied by measuring work function changes Δø vs time at a number of temperatures. Combination with previously determined Δø vs coverage data and differentiation at various fixed coverages gave rate vs T data from which activation energies of desorption could be obtained. E vs coverage results agree well with previously determine ΔH_des results. In the case of H/Fe₁/W(110) this includes a rise from 20 to 30 kcal mol⁻¹ of H₂ at H/Fe = H/W > 0.3. Plots of rate −dθ/dt vs θ (θ being coverage in units of H/W) vary much more steeply than θ² at most coverages for both systems. The θ dependence can be explained almost quantitatively in terms of the variations of ΔH_des and surface entropy S_s with coverage, by assuming that rates of desorption are equal to the equilibrium rates of adsorption. The latter can be formulated thermodynamically, except for a sticking coefficient, s. Values for s(θ, T) can also be obtained and show relatively little temperature dependence.     

Magnetism of ultrathin Fe(110) films

Application of conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) to structural and magnetic analysis of ultrathin films and their interfaces is reviewed. Fe(110) films were prepared on W(110) under UHV conditions and analyzed in situ. CEMS provides detailed information on the mode of growth and film structure and on magnetic hyperfine fields, B _hf. Local structure of B _hf across the film is discussed in relation to modifications of magnetic order caused by the finite (including monolayer) film thickness and by the electronic structure of the interface.     

Phonons at the Fe(110) surface

The in-plane density of phonon states of clean Fe(110) surface was measured separately for the first, second, and further atomic monolayers using nuclear inelastic scattering of synchrotron radiation. The results show that atoms of the first layer vibrate with frequencies significantly lower and amplitudes much larger than those in the bulk, and that vibrational spectra along two perpendicular in-surface directions are different. The vibrations of the second layer are already very close to those of the bulk. The good agreement of the experimental results and the first-principles calculations allows for detailed understanding of the observed phenomena.     

Interaction of carbon dioxide with Fe(110), stepped Fe(100) and Fe(111)

The adsorption of CO₂ on single crystal surfaces of Fe(110), regularly stepped Fe(110) and Fe(111) in the temperature range between 77 and 340 K was studied by means of He(I) UPS and measurements of the change in work function. The smooth Fe(110) face proved to be completely inactive with respect to CO₂ adsorption. On a stepped Fe(110) and an Fe(111) face CO₂ is adsorbed at 77 K in the form of a linear molecule and in the form of a species the nature of which is not yet clarified. This latter form is predominant at 140 K. With increasing temperature decomposition into CO and O and finally into C and O takes place.     

Periodic lattice distortions in epitaxial films of Fe(110) on W(110)

The epitaxial growth of Fe(110) on W(110) at 500 K is analyzed using LEED and AES. Frank-van der Merwe growth is established by AES. According to LEED, pseudomorphism occurs up to θ = 1.64, where every W atom of two topmost W layers is just covered by exactly one Fe atom. For 2?θ?9, characteristic reflection-multiplets are observed, symmetric about the basic Fe(110) reflections, which are interpreted in terms of periodic lattice distortions. The latter are caused by interaction with the misfitting W substrate.     

An adsorption-desorption study of Cu on Mo(110)

Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), adsorption-desorption equilibrium (ADE), adsorption transient (AT) and desorption transient (DT) measurements are used to study the adsorption and condensation of Cu on Mo(110). Fitting the ADE results with various statistical-mechanical models gives good agreement with the desorption energies derived from the TDS, AT, and DT measurements. At coverages above two monolayers (ML) three-dimensional nucleation is seen in the kinetic measurements.