Magnetic Dead Layers Induced by Strain at fct Fe/Rh(001) Interface

Abstract

We have studied magnetic properties of face-centered-tetragonal (fct) Fe thin films grown at room temperature on the Rh(001) surface. Band structure calculations show that the stable magnetic phase of fct Fe on the Rh(001) surface is ferromagnetic (FM), which agrees with our previous conclusion obtained by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (SARPES) of the four monolayers (ML) Fe film [K. Hayashi et al. : Phys. Rev. B 64 (2001) 054417]. This magnetic phase of fct Fe is also confirmed by the SARPES spectra of 3 ML Fe/Rh(001). On the other hand the thickness dependence of the Curie temperature estimated by SARPES and of local magnetic moment by soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments show that the Fe films below 2 ML are not FM, i.e., they are magnetic dead layers. We conclude that these magnetic dead layers are caused by a large strain at the Fe/Rh(001) interface.