MAGNETIC-STRUCTURE OF THE SURFACE AND INTERIOR OF BA HEXAFERRITES

The magnetic structure of the surface layer of single crystals of Ba h exaferrites has been studied in direct comparison with the magnetic st ructure of the interior of the sample by a method involving simultaneo us gamma, x-ray, and electron Mossbauer spectroscopy. Within the exper imental error of similar to 10 nm, the results do not reveal a surface transition layer in which the orientation of the magnetic moments cha nges smoothly from the direction observed on the surface to the direct ion in the interior. In antiferromagnets, on the other hand, the thick ness of this transition surface layer is hundreds of nanometers. (C) 1 995 American Institute of Physics.