Surface magnetic canting of iron films

Abstract

The magnetization direction of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-Fe thin films was investigated by means of quantum-beat spectroscopy using nuclear resonant scattering in the glancing-incidence regime and conversion-electron M\"ossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS). The CEMS results show that the mean magnetization of the films is in plane. Quantum-beat data, on the other hand, reveal that perpendicular components are present in the magnetization at the film surfaces, indicating that the magnetization cants from the in-plane to the perpendicular direction near the surfaces.