Abstract
Ultrathin films of the itinerant ferromagnet were studied using the transport and magneto-optic polar Kerr effect. We find that below 4 monolayers, the films become insulating and their magnetic character changes as they loose their simple ferromagnetic behavior. We observe a strong reduction in the magnetic moment which for 3 monolayers and below lies in the plane of the film. Exchange-bias behavior is observed below the critical thickness and may point to induced antiferromagnetism in contact with ferromagnetic regions.
- Received 16 March 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.140407
©2009 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Every single layer matters
Published 20 April 2009
A critical thickness below which thin films of the metallic ferromagnet become insulating and lose their ferromagnetic properties has been determined.
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