LEED analysis of ultra-thin cobalt layers grown on Cr(100)

Abstract

Cobalt overlayers grown at room temperature on a chromium (100) surface have been studied with low energy electron diffraction (LEED) up to a thickness of four atomic layers. A quantitative analysis via dynamical LEED calculations is given for zero and two cobalt layers grown on Cr(100). A metastable bcc phase of cobalt is evidenced. The influence of nitrogen contamination of the films is discussed.