X-ray magnetic circular dichroism study of epitaxial magnetite ultrathin film on MgO(100)

Abstract

The spin and orbital magnetic moments of the Fe3O4 epitaxial ultrathin film synthesized by plasma assisted simultaneous oxidization on MgO(100) have been studied with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The ultrathin film retains a rather large total magnetic moment, i.e., (2.73?±?0.15)?μB/f.u., which is ∼70% of that for the bulk-like Fe3O4. A significant unquenched orbital moment up to 0.54?±?0.05?μB/f.u. was observed, which could come from the symmetry breaking at the Fe3O4/MgO interface. Such sizable orbital moment will add capacities to the Fe3O4-based spintronics devices in the magnetization reversal by the electric field.