Controlling orbital moment and spin orientation in CoO layers by strain

We have observed that CoO films grown on different substrates show dramatic differences in their magnetic properties. Using polarization dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Co L$_{2,3}$ edges, we revealed that the magnitude and orientation of the magnetic moments strongly depend on the strain in the films induced by the substrate. We presented a quantitative model to explain how strain together with the spin-orbit interaction determine the 3d orbital occupation, the magnetic anisotropy, as well as the spin and orbital contributions to the magnetic moments. Control over the sign and direction of the strain may therefore open new opportunities for applications in the field of exchange bias in multilayered magnetic films

Magnetic versus crystal field linear dichroism in NiO thin films

We have detected strong dichroism in the Ni $L_{2,3}$ x-ray absorption spectra of monolayer NiO films. The dichroic signal appears to be very similar to the magnetic linear dichroism observed for thicker antiferromagnetic NiO films. A detailed experimental and theoretical analysis reveals, however, that the dichroism is caused by crystal field effects in the monolayer films, which is a non trivial effect because the high spin Ni $3d^{8}$ ground state is not split by low symmetry crystal fields. We present a practical experimental method for identifying the independent magnetic and crystal field contributions to the linear dichroic signal in spectra of NiO films with arbitrary thicknesses and lattice strains. Our findings are also directly relevant for high spin $3d^{5}$ and $3d^{3}$ systems such as LaFeO$_{3}$, Fe$_{2}$O$_{3}$, VO, LaCrO$_{3}$, Cr$_{2}$O$_{3}$, and Mn$^{4+}$ manganate thin films

Growth and properties of strained VOx thin films with controlled stoichiometry

We have succeeded in growing epitaxial films of rocksalt VOx on MgO(001) substrates. The oxygen content as a function of oxygen flux was determined using 18O2-RBS and the vanadium valence using XAS. The upper and lower stoichiometry limits found are similar to the ones known for bulk material (0.8<x<1.3). From the RHEED oscillation period a large number of vacancies for both vanadium and oxygen were deduced, i.e. ~16% for stoichiometric VO. These numbers are, surprisingly, very similar to those for bulk material and consequently quite strain-insensitive. XAS measurements reveal that the vacancies give rise to strong low symmetry ligand fields to be present. The electrical conductivity of the films is much lower than the conductivity of bulk samples which we attribute to a decrease in the direct overlap between t2g orbitals in the coherently strained layers. The temperature dependence of the conductivity is consistent with a variable range hopping mechanism.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figures included, revised versio

Spin-resolved photoemission studies of epitaxial Fe₃O₄(100) thin films

In situ spin-resolved photoemission studies have been performed on expitaxial Fe3O4 thin films grown on MgO(1 0 0). The spin polarization of the valence band at the Fermi level has been found to be -55.5% and not -100% as predicted by the first-principles calculations. Our spin-resolved measurements provide direct experimental evidence showing that Fe3O4 is not a half-metal as a result of electron-electron correlation effects, and that Fe3O4 should be considered as a strongly correlated system. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Electron correlation effects in half-metallic transition metal oxides

Spin-resolved photoemission and absorption studies Of Fe3O4 and CrO2 epitaxial thin films have been reviewed to address the relationship between the electron correlation effects and the half-metallic properties of these two materials. Spin-resolved photoemission results suggest that Fe3O4 should be considered as a strongly correlated system, and that Fe3O4 is not a half-metal. Spin-resolved O 1s X-ray absorption measurements on ferromagnetic CrO2 reveal that the spin polarization of the unoccupied states closest to the Fermi level approaches 100%, confirming the half-metallic ferromagnetic nature of the material. The spin polarization of the main line of the unoccupied states, on the other hand, is found to be only 50%, indicating a very atomic-like behavior of the Cr 3d(2) ions