Periodic elastic domains of coexisting phases in epitaxial MnAs films on GaAs

Abstract

The surface topography of epitaxial MnAs films on GaAs(001) is studied by scanning probe microscopy. We provide direct experimental evidence for temperature-dependent elastic domains of the coexisting ferromagnetic αMnAs and paramagnetic βMnAs phases. The results agree well with a theoretical model for the elastic equilibrium of periodic domains.