Mössbauer-effect investigation of the Fe(001)/Ag(001) interface

The Fe(001)/Ag(001) interface in molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown (001) structures has been investigated using conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy. One monolayer of ${}_{}{}^{57}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$ is used as a probe layer. The Mössbauer-effect study shows that the Fe/Ag interface consists of atomic terraces, one atomic layer in height. Three Fe sites can be distinguished at the Fe/Ag interface. The average size of the terraces can be determined from the relative intensity of the three components in the Mössbauer spectrum. By growing the sample at 420 K the terrace size can be increased significantly. However, at this temperature, diffusion of the ${}_{}{}^{57}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$ into the underlying Fe layers becomes important.