1. Quantitative atomic order characterization of a Mn2FeAl Heusler epitaxial thin film
- Author
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Kurdi, Samer, Sakuraba, Yuya, Masuda, Keisuke, Tajiri, Hiroo, Nair, Bhaskaran, Nataf, Guillaume F, Vickers, Mary E, Reiss, G��nter, Meinert, Markus, Dhesi, Sarnjeet S, Ghidini, Massimo, Barber, Zoe, Kurdi, S [0000-0002-7374-2844], Sakuraba, Y [0000-0003-4618-9550], Masuda, K [0000-0002-6884-6390], Nataf, GF [0000-0001-9215-4717], Meinert, M [0000-0002-7813-600X], Dhesi, SS [0000-0003-4966-0002], Ghidini, M [0000-0002-1905-2455], Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository, Kurdi, Samer [0000-0002-7374-2844], Sakuraba, Yuya [0000-0003-4618-9550], Masuda, Keisuke [0000-0002-6884-6390], Nataf, Guillaume F [0000-0001-9215-4717], Meinert, Markus [0000-0002-7813-600X], Dhesi, Sarnjeet S [0000-0003-4966-0002], and Ghidini, Massimo [0000-0002-1905-2455]
- Subjects
Paper ,spintronics ,Acoustics and Ultrasonics ,Condensed matter ,diffraction ,thin ,x-ray absorption spectroscopy ,Condensed Matter Physics ,spin polarization ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,x-ray magnetic circular dichroism ,Heusler alloy ,x-ray ,x-ray diffraction ,thin films ,films - Abstract
In this work, we investigate the effect of anti-site disorder on the half-metallic properties of a Mn2FeAl Heusler alloy thin film. The film was grown on TiN-buffered MgO 001 substrates via magnetron sputtering. A detailed structural characterization using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and anomalous XRD showed that the film crystallizes in the partially disordered L21 B structure with 33% disorder between the Mn(B) and Al(D) sites. We measure a positive anisotropic magnetoresistance in the film, which is an indication of non-half metallic behaviour. Our x-ray magnetic circular dichroism sum rules analysis shows that Mn carries the magnetic moment in the film, with a positive Fe moment. Experimentally determined moments correspond most closely with those found by density functional calculated for the L21 B structure with Mn(B) and Al(D) site disorder, matching the experimental structural analysis. We thus attribute the deviation from half-metallic behaviour to the formation of the L21 B structure. To realize a half-metallic Mn2FeAl film it is important that the inverse Heusler XA structure is stabilized with minimal anti-site atomic disorder.
- Published
- 2022