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Local atomic structure of ultra-thin Fe films grown on Cu(100)

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Abstract

Ultra-thin epitaxial Fe films grown by thermal deposition on Cu(100) are analyzed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Evidence is presented that the morphological characteristics and magnetic properties are a direct consequence of FCC-to-BCC transitions reminiscent of those occurring in bulk Fe. In contrast to the assumption of a ferromagnetic FCC phase in previous models of the Fe/Cu(100) system, we observe a tightly twinned and strained BCC-like phase termed nanomartensite in films below 5 ML thickness, which encompasses almost the entire film volume of 3 ML films. In addition, the surface of 7–8 ML films reconstructs by forming non-close-packed structures with BCC-like bond angles. The formation of these BCC-like phases is the reason for the expansion of the interlayer spacing observed in these films and correlates perfectly with their ferromagnetic ordering.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Allgemeine Physik, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8–10/134, 1040, Vienna, Austria

    A. Biedermann, R. Tscheliessnig, M. Schmid & P. Varga

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  1. A. Biedermann
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  2. R. Tscheliessnig
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  3. M. Schmid
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  4. P. Varga
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Correspondence to P. Varga.

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PACS

68.55.-a; 64.70.-p; 81.30.-t

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Biedermann, A., Tscheliessnig, R., Schmid, M. et al. Local atomic structure of ultra-thin Fe films grown on Cu(100). Appl. Phys. A 78, 807–816 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-003-2435-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-003-2435-7

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