Relationship between morphology and magnetic behavior for Gd thin films on W(110)

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Abstract
We have used scanning-tunneling microscopy to study the structure of Gd thin films grown on W(110) and its relationship to the magnetic properties. The film morphology is examined for different coverages and for two different post-deposition annealing temperatures (530 and 710 K), permitting predictions of the in-plane demagnetization factor and the Curie temperature that are in excellent agreement with prior ac magnetic-susceptibility measurements. The first monolayer of Gd is also found to grow in a (7×14) lateral superstructure, giving rise to in-plane lattice distortions of ∼1% as compared to the values of bulk Gd. © 1996 The American Physical Society.