X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, photoemission and RHEED studies of Fe/InAs(100) interfaces

In contrast with the other interfaces involving deposition of 3d transition metals on III–V semiconductors (mostly GaAs), the Fe/InAs(100) interface exhibits magnetic properties even at the lowest coverage (1 monolayer, ML) investigated. The reactivity of the interface is also lower compared with Fe/GaAs. It involves formation of an interface compound of approximate stoichiometry of FeAs mixed with metallic In islands for Fe coverages lower than 3 ML, followed by the growth of relaxed bulk α-Fe in a Vollmer–Weber mode.