New Magnetic Order in Buried Native Iron Oxide Layers

The properties of a magnetically ordered buried Fe oxide layer are presented. This oxide has a room-temperature magnetization exceeding that of ${\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}}_3{\mathrm{O}}_4$ by 42% and of $\gamma \mathrm{\text{−}}{\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ by 89%. The oxide consists of a component (70%) with a net moment of $2.0{\mu }_B/\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}$ ion, while the remaining spins yield no net moment. The oxide magnetization is stabilized in part by the proximate Fe metal.