Structure and magnetic characterisation of δ-Mn thin films

Complete text of publication follows. Theoretical studies [1] predict a variety of low temperature antiferromagnetic structures in tetragonaly distorted bcc (δ-) Mn as a function of its lattice parameters. This high temperature phase in bulk Mn cannot be obtained at room temperature by quenching. However, it has been stabilised in the form of thin films by molecular beam epitaxy on the (001) surface of bcc Fe. In-situ LEED measurements show that Mn grows epitaxially on Fe with a good crystallinity up to 30 A. Reflectivity and small angle diffuse scattering of synchrotron radiation reveal sharp interfaces with correlated roughness. To characterise the magnetic coupling behaviour of Fe/δ-Mn/Fe trilayers, MOKE and polarized neutron reflectivity measurements have been performed. Evidence for non-collinear coupling has been found for Mn spacer thicknesses in the range of 8 A. (author) [1] P. Krueger, O. Elmouhssine, C. Demangeat and J.C. Parlebas, Phys. Rev. B 54, 6393 (1996)