ABSTRACT
Monolayer short period (EuTe) n /(PbTe) 3n superlattices (SL) with alternating magnetic EuTe and non-magnetic PbTe layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. For 2D layer-by-layer heteroepitaxial growth, only a narrow regime of growth conditions can be used in order to prevent surface roughening due to strain-induced coherent islanding. For such growth conditions, scanning tunneling microscopy reveals a very smooth surface morphology. The structural properties of the SL samples were studied by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Magnetization measurements show an antiferromagnetic-like phase transition for an even number n of EuTe monolayers and a ferrimagnetic-like transition for odd n. In addition, neutron diffraction data indicate the existence of a long-range interlayer coupling between the magnetic layers across the intervening non-magnetic PbTe layers.
