Direct observation of half-metallicity in the Heusler compound Co2MnSi

TLDR

Heusler compounds are predicted to be half‑metallic with 100 % spin polarization at the Fermi level, making them attractive for spintronics, yet experimental confirmation remains limited. The study investigates epitaxial Co₂MnSi thin films using in‑situ ultraviolet photoemission with a novel multi‑channel spin filter. The authors employed in‑situ ultraviolet photoemission with a multi‑channel spin filter and ex‑situ high‑energy X‑ray photoemission, comparing the data to advanced band‑structure calculations that account for surface effects. The measurements reveal a room‑temperature spin polarization of 93 % in Co₂MnSi, in excellent agreement with calculations that predict a highly spin‑polarized surface resonance within a half‑metallic bulk band structure. Citation: Jourdan et al.

Abstract

Ferromagnetic thin films of Heusler compounds are highly relevant for spintronic applications owing to their predicted half-metallicity, that is, 100% spin polarization at the Fermi energy. However, experimental evidence for this property is scarce. Here we investigate epitaxial thin films of the compound Co2MnSi in situ by ultraviolet-photoemission spectroscopy, taking advantage of a novel multi-channel spin filter. By this surface sensitive method, an exceptionally large spin polarization of ( ) % at room temperature is observed directly. As a more bulk sensitive method, additional ex situ spin-integrated high energy X-ray photoemission spectroscopy experiments are performed. All experimental results are compared with advanced band structure and photoemission calculations which include surface effects. Excellent agreement is obtained with calculations, which show a highly spin polarized bulk-like surface resonance ingrained in a half metallic bulk band structure. Spintronics requires materials in which most of the spins at the Fermi edge are aligned with each other at room temperatures. Jourdan et al. observe such a spin polarization of 93% in Co2MnSi—a Heusler alloy amenable to many spintronic applications; evidence of the material’s half-metallicity.