Magnetism and initial growth mode of Cr on Ag(100)

Abstract

We point out some unusual features of the initial growth mode of Cr on Ag(100). While, upon deposition of one layer equivalent (LE) of Cr, an ordered flat Cr monolayer is formed when the substrate is held at 440 K during deposition, agglomeration takes place when the Cr, first deposited at room temperature (RT), is annealed after deposition at temperatures as low as 380 K. Cr further deposited on the ordered monolayer shows a strong tendency to agglomerate even at RT. It is proposed that the strong in-plane antiferromagnetism of the metastable ordered monolayer platelets plays a major role in the initial mode of growth.