Moment mapping of body-centered-cubic FexMn1−x alloy films on MgO(001)

Abstract

The alloy composition and elemental magnetic moments of bcc single crystal films of compositionally graded FexMn1−x films (20 nm thick films with 0.8 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) grown on MgO(001) are spatially mapped using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism. Electron diffraction measurements on single composition samples confirmed that the structure of FexMn1−x films remained epitaxial and in the bcc phase from 0.65 ≤ x ≤ 1, but rotated 45° with respect to the MgO(001) surface net. This is beyond the bulk bcc stability limit of x = 0.88. The Fe moment is found to gradually reduce with increasing Mn content with a very abrupt decline at x = 0.85, a slightly higher composition than observed in the bulk. Surprisingly, the Mn exhibits a very small net moment (<0.1 μB) at all compositions, suggesting a complex Mn spin structure.