Electronic and magnetic properties of the Fe/ZnSe(0 0 1) interface

The electronic, magnetic and structural properties of thin Fe films epitaxially grown on ZnSe(0 0 1) have been investigated by means of spin resolved inverse photoemission and low energy electron diffraction. Ultrathin Fe films grown on ZnSe(0 0 1) present no magnetic remanence, while ferromagnetism develops for coverages greater than 8 monolayers. These findings are interpreted in terms of an evolution from a low coverage superparamagnetic phase towards a ferromagnetic phase typical of thicker films