PHOTOEMISSION-STUDY OF THE FE MNO INTERFACE FORMATION/

The formation of the Fe/MnO interface at room temperature has been stu died for iron coverages in the range 1-8 angstrom by synchrotron radia tion induced photoemission spectroscopy. The valence band and 3p and 3 s core levels of both Fe and Mn were recorded after each metal evapora tion. At first, strong interaction between iron and the substrate is o bserved with Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxide formation. By increasing the coverage the diffusion of Fe(O) at the interface seems to take place simultane ously with the growth of an upper metallic Fe layer.