Abstract
Magnetic domain structure and spin-dependent reflectivity measurements on cobalt thin films intercalated at the graphene/Ir(111) interface are investigated using spin-polarised low-energy electron microscopy. We find that graphene-covered cobalt films have surprising magnetic properties. Vectorial imaging of magnetic domains reveals an unusually gradual thickness-dependent spin reorientation transition, in which magnetisation rotates from out-of-the-film plane to the in-plane direction by less than 10° per cobalt monolayer. During this transition, cobalt films have a meandering spin texture, characterised by a complex, three-dimensional, wavy magnetisation pattern. In addition, spectroscopy measurements suggest that the electronic band structure of the unoccupied states is essentially spin-independent already a few electron-Volts above the vacuum level. These properties strikingly differ from those of pristine cobalt films and could open new prospects in surface magnetism.
Highlights
Using spin-polarised low-energy electron microscopy and spectroscopy, we investigate in this work the in-plane to out-of-plane spin reorientation transition (SRT) that occurs upon Co intercalation between graphene and Ir(111), with a special focus on the determination of the surface magnetic anisotropy
Using the capabilities of spin-polarised low-energy electron microscope (SPLEEM) microscopy to probe the band structure of unoccupied electronic states and to resolve spin configurations in all space directions, we investigated the magnetic properties of in situ grown graphene/Co/Ir(111) heterostructures
Compared to bare Co/Ir(111) films, we found that the graphene capping layer drastically affects the spin texture and the spin-dependent band structure of the intercalated Co film
Summary
Magnetic domain structure and spin-dependent reflectivity measurements on cobalt thin films intercalated at the graphene/Ir(111) interface are investigated using spin-polarised low-energy electron microscopy. Vectorial imaging of magnetic domains reveals an unusually gradual thickness-dependent spin reorientation transition, in which magnetisation rotates from out-of-the-film plane to the in-plane direction by less than 10° per cobalt monolayer. Cobalt films have a meandering spin texture, characterised by a complex, three-dimensional, wavy magnetisation pattern.
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