We used nuclear resonant scattering (NRS) of synchrotron radiation to investigate the details of the thickness-induced spin reorientation transition (SRT) in ultrathin epitaxial iron films on W(110), where the thicknesses of the films ranged from 1–5 monolayers. During growth, the magnetization of the Fe film, which was probed by the hyperfine magnetic field, changes from a noncollinear configuration with an out-of-plane magnetic component to the homogeneously magnetized state with the in-plane [1-10] easy direction. The fast acquisition of the experimental NRS spectra combined with the high sensitivity of this technique to the orientation of the hyperfine magnetic fields allowed us to study the magnetic evolution during SRT in detail. Our results reveal the complex character of this transition, which has been intensively studied in the past. The noncollinear magnetic structure appears in the system of the mono-, double-, and trilayer areas that coexist due to deviation from the layer-by-layer growth of iron on W(110). We also report the observation of out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy in the double-layer areas at temperatures as high as 300 K. By comparing the experimental results with density functional theory calculations, we conclude that surface magnetic moments are enhanced by 25$\%$.

• Received 15 October 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.87.134411