A comparative study of the molecular-beam epitaxial growth of Ag/Fe, Ag/Cr, and Fe/Cr superlattices on GaAs (001)

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Abstract
Ag/Fe, Ag/Cr, and Fe/Cr superlattices grown on GaAs (001) by molecular-beam epitaxy are compared on the basis of their structural properties. Highly ordered superlattices with very sharp interfaces are obtained for Ag-based structures (Ag/Fe, Ag/Cr). Although several attempts have been made to improve the growth process of Fe/Cr superlattices, they are far from being so well defined. This is a consequence of a progressive degradation which occurs when the superlattice thickness increases and becomes clearly observable in reflection high-energy electron diffraction above roughly 300 Å. However, using an optimum growth temperature, reasonably well-defined structures, suitable for subsequent magnetic studies, are obtained.