Surface and bulk spin ordering of antiferromagnetic materials: NiO(111).
We present a study of the prototypical NiO(111) antiferromagnet by nonresonant surface x-ray magnetic scattering. Direct access to the antiferromagnetic surface and bulk spin ordering is demonstrated. Our data support a first order antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition. A quantitative determination of the magnetization profile is proposed. It is shown that the NiO(111) surface spins remain ordered at higher temperatures than in the bulk and that the blocking temperature in exchange coupled ferromagnetic-NiO interfaces is most likely related to an S-domain structure loss occurring 25 K below the Ne el temperature.
Barbier
Antoine
A
CEA-Saclay, DSM/DRECAM/SPCSI, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, France. abarbier@cea.fr
Mocuta
Cristian
C
Neubeck
Wolfgang
W
Mulazzi
Mattia
M
Yakhou
Flora
F
Chesnel
Karine
K
Sollier
Albéric
A
Vettier
Christian
C
de Bergevin
François
F