Magnetic properties of monolayer range chromium oxides on Fe(001)

Cr ultrathin films have been prepared on the oxygen-passivated Fe(001)-p(1 × 1)O surface, resulting in monolayer range chromium oxide layers. We discuss the presence of first nearest-neighbor Cr pairs, as seen by scanning tunneling microscopy, in the early stages of interface growth and compare the results with previous experimental observations on the Cr/Fe oxygen-free interface. We then derive the magnetic properties of the Cr oxide ultrathin films by analyzing new x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements conducted on samples grown both at room temperature and at 400 °C. The ultrathin Cr oxide film forms in both cases a ferromagnetic layer which is antiferromagnetically coupled to Fe. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.