Surface magnetism of ultrathin Mn- and Cr-films on Fe 100/ studied via capture of polarized electrons by Heq-ions

We report on first experiments on the emission of polarized light after capture of spin polarized electrons during grazing scattering of ions from the surface of ultrathin magnetic films. The spin polarization observed during initial growth of Mn or Cr on Fe 100. shows a pronounced dependence on the coverage. A qualitative analysis taking into account growth morphology and interfacial alloying reveals a complex evolution with coverage of the long-range magnetic order of the topmost film layer, comprising ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic alignments. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.