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Phys. Rev. B 63, 140406(R) (2001) (4 pages)

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Topmost layer magnetization of ultrathin Cr films on Fe(100) from proton-induced spin-polarized electron emission

R. Pfandzelter, M. Ostwald, and H. Winter

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Physik, Invalidenstrasse 110, D-10115 Berlin, Germany

(Received 24 January 2001; published 16 March 2001)

The magnetic ordering of the topmost surface layer of ultrathin Cr films grown on Fe(100) is studied via spin-polarized electron emission, excited by fast protons grazingly scattered from the film surface. We find that most electrons originate from the topmost layer. Based on simple assumptions we are able to deduce the layer-dependent magnetic moments from the observed spin polarization of electrons. We demonstrate that our method has a clearly smaller probing depth than conventional spin-polarized electron spectroscopies. ©2001 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRB/v63/e140406
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.63.140406
PACS: 75.70.Ak, 79.20.Rf, 79.20.Hx        Additional Information

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Citing Articles

1. Layer-dependent magnetization at the surface of a band ferromagnet
   R. Pfandzelter et al., Phys. Rev. B 64, 140405 (2001)