Magnetic and critical behavior of thin terbium(0001)/tungsten(110) films studied by electron capture spectroscopy (ECS)

Epitaxial films of hcp Tb(0001) on bcc W(110) substrates are prepared and their geometric, electronic and magnetic properties are studied. The atomic flatness and cleanness and the single-crystalline state of the W(110) substrates and the Tb films are checked using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and low-energy and high-energy electron diffraction (LEED and RHEED). Using electron capture spectroscopy (ECS), the surface electron spin polarization of the Tb(0001) films is studied as a function of temperature. The topmost layer is found to order ferromagnetically below a surface Curie temperature T$\sb{\rm C\sb s}$ = 249.96 K, which lies above both the bulk Curie and Neel temperatures T$\sb{\rm C\sb b}$ = 220 K and T$\sb{\rm N\sb b}$ = 228 K, respectively, and exhibits strongly non-monotonic behavior close to 245 K. Novel critical behavior is observed near T$\sb{\rm C\sb s}$, suggesting strong surface anisotropies, in accord with a recently predicted and previously unobserved surface phase transition.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Sciences

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Jin, Changming

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rau, Carl

• Condensed matter physics
• Physics
• Electromagnetics
• Engineering
• Materials science

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13298

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/13298