Mössbauer Studies of Very Thin Oxide Layer on Fe Surface

Abstract
Very thin oxide layers on Fe metal surfaces with the thickness of ca. 10 Å, are investigated by means of Mössbauer absorption spectroscopy using surface-selectively enriched samples. The oxide is similar to γ-Fe2O3 but has non-collinear spin arrangement at 4.2 K and is superparamagnetic at 300 K. The reduction of the recoilless fraction at 300 K is not drastic. Oxidation of Fe surfaces coated by Sb layers is also studied.