Resonant x-ray scattering studies of the magnetic structure near the surface of an antiferromagnet

• Published in: Physical review. B, Condensed matter and materials physics Vol. 61; no. 13
• Main Authors: Watson, G. M., Gibbs, Doon, Lander, G. H., Gaulin, B. D., Berman, L. E., Matzke, Hj, Ellis, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-2000
• Subjects: ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; INTERFACES; MAGNETIC PROPERTIES; MATERIALS SCIENCE; NEEL TEMPERATURE; ORDER-DISORDER TRANSFORMATIONS; RESONANCE SCATTERING; SURFACE PROPERTIES; TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K; TEMPERATURE RANGE 0013-0065 K; URANIUM OXIDES; X-RAY DIFFRACTION
• ISSN: 1098-0121; 1550-235X
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.61.8966

Resonant x-ray magnetic scattering is used to study magnetic order near the (001) surface of the antiferromagnetic oxide UO{sub 2} for temperatures between 10 and 35 K. It is found that for temperatures below the bulk Neel temperature a magnetically disordered region exists at the surface, and is separated from the magnetically ordered bulk by a diffuse magnetic interface. The width of the magnetic interface is temperature dependent, and appears to diverge as the sample temperature approaches the bulk Neel temperature. In contrast to the bulk, which exhibits a discontinuous magnetic ordering transition, the surface layers order continuously. These results are shown to be qualitatively consistent with the theory of surface induced disorder. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.