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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
We have studied the morphology and magnetic phase transitions of monolayer-range Fe films on a reconstructed Au(001) surface using the combination of High-Resolution Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (HRLEED) and Surface Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (SMOKE) techniques. Through the measurement of energy dependent angular profiles of the specularly diffracted beam, we discovered a simple method to determine not only the interfacial spacings (Fe-Au and Fe-Fe) but also to detect the build up of the second layer. For a one-level (2-D) Fe films with coverage of ∼ 0.6 monolayer (ML) perpendicular magnetization was observed. For a 1 ML equivalent 3-D film both perpendicular and in-plane magnetization were observed. The magnetic phase transitions of these magnetic islands showed finite size broadening effect. The perpendicular saturation magnetization decreases with temperature above 100°C but never vanishes and the magnetization curve has no hysteresis loop above ∼ 120°C. The implication of superparamagnetism is discussed.