High spin state of Mn in an ideal monolayer on Ag(001)

Abstract:

We studied the magnetic properties of ultra-thin Mn films deposited on Ag (001) held at 80 K with soft X-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism. The observed shape and branching ratio of the Mn 2p absorption edge as a function of Mn coverage demonstrate that, up to , the Mn adopts a stable high spin state similar to the Mn atom Hund's rule ⁶ S _5/2 ground state. Above this coverage a rapid transition from localized high spin to itinerant low spin behavior of the Mn 3d electrons is evidenced. Magnetic circular dichroism shows no sign of long range ferromagnetic order in these films at 80 K. The data, first confirm the large atomic-like local magnetic moment, and second are in line with the in-plane antiferromagnetic order, reported recently (Phys. Rev. B 57, 1141 (1998)), for Mn in the nearly ideal on-top Mn monolayer formed by 0.9 ML deposited at 80 K.