Epitaxial iron films

The research program focused on the growth and the magnetic properties of epitaxial iron films grown on GaAs/InAs alloy substrates. Pseudomorphic growth of magnetic films on semiconductor substrates provides the potential for tuning of the magnetic properties of thin film magnets by varying the lattice constant and the morphology of the growth surface; this type of research has both device and fundamental research applications. The studies of Fe films grown on GaAs revealed a number of interesting phenomena including a dynamic Fe-FeO coupling, and a correlation between surface morphology and the coercivity of the films. In the growth studies reflection high energy electron diffraction determines the quality of the material (surfaces and interfaces) and the growth mechanisms of the metal films. The magnetic studies relied on the transport properties of the films supplemented by magnetization measurements.