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arXiv · 0809.0620

Imaging the antiparallel magnetic alignment of adjacent Fe and MnAs thin films

R. Breitwieser·M. Marangolo·J. Luning·N. Jaouen·L. Joly·M. Eddrief·V. H. Etgens·M. Sacchi
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Abstract

The magnetic coupling between iron and alpha - MnAs in the epitaxial system Fe/MnAs/GaAs(001) has been studied at the sub-micron scale, using element selective x-ray photoemission electron microscopy. At room temperature, MnAs layers display ridges and grooves, alternating alpha (magnetic) and beta (non-magnetic) phases. The self-organised microstructure of MnAs and the stray fields that it generates govern the local alignment between the Fe and alpha - MnAs magnetization directions, which is mostly antiparallel with a marked dependence upon the magnetic domain size.

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R. Breitwieser, M. Marangolo, J. Luning, N. Jaouen, L. Joly, M. Eddrief, V. H. Etgens, M. Sacchi. 2008-09-03. Imaging the antiparallel magnetic alignment of adjacent Fe and MnAs thin films. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2990755

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