Indication of a non-magnetic surface layer on a magnetic single crystal
Daniel Wegner, Gunter Kaindl
TL;DR
This study investigates the surface electronic states of Sm(0001) and Eu/Gd(0001) using STM and spectroscopy, revealing a non-magnetic surface layer on Sm despite its magnetic substrate, which could impact future magnetic thin film research.
Contribution
It provides evidence of a non-magnetic surface layer on Sm(0001), challenging assumptions about surface magnetism in rare-earth metals.
Findings
Unoccupied surface state observed on both surfaces.
Temperature-dependent splitting in Eu/Gd(0001).
Non-magnetic surface layer on Sm(0001).
Abstract
The structural and electronic properties of the surfaces of Sm(0001) and Eu/Gd(0001) were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy at temperatures between 10 and 110 K. In both systems, an unoccupied surface state is observed that exhibits a temperature-dependent splitting into two states for Eu/Gd(0001), while it is unsplit on Sm(0001). This strongly indicates that the divalent outermost surface layer of Sm(0001) is non-magnetic despite the antiferromagnetic trivalent Sm substrate. These findings open new opportunities for magnetic studies of ultra-thin Sm films.
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