UHV magnetic-force microscopy on in situ grown iron-thin films

Ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and magnetic for ce microscopy (MFM) were used to investigate the topography and the magneti c domain structure of epitaxial Fe/Ag thin films. Ten-nanometer thick Fe fi lms were grown on in situ prepared Ag(1 0 0)/Fe/GaAs(I 0 0) substrates. STM images revealed smooth terrace-step structures for the Ag(1 0 0) and the F e(1 0 0) layers. The domain structure mainly consists of 90 degrees domain walls. The density of domains increases significantly close to the sample e dges and a echelon pattern is formed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.