Growth and characterization of epitaxial fcc Fe wedges on diamond (100)

Abstract

Epitaxial Fe wedges with a thickness gradation from 0 to 20 Å were grown on diamond (100) at room temperature, subsequently annealed, and investigated with reflection high-energy electron diffraction and the surface magneto-optical Kerr effect. The results indicate that for <5 monolayer thicknesses the Fe grows on C(100) as smooth, epitaxial fcc films, which are not ferromagnetic, but that thicker films undergo a transition to become rough and the ordinary bcc ferromagnetic phase.